The Ancient Art of Kushti

The ancient traditional art of Indian wrestling, known as ‘kushti’, thrives in wrestling gyms, or ‘akhara’, scattered around the India. Akhara are one of the few places in India where Hindu men who come from different castes are considered equals.

 

Guru Jasram Ji's Akhara is on Mathura Road Highway in South Delhi near Modi Mill Flyover. It is one of the biggest and most reputed Akharas (wrestling training centers) in India. The Akhara is run by 85-year-old Guru Jasram Ji. Everyday he comes to the Akhara at 5.a.m. and 3 .p.m. to train the wrestlers.

 

kushtiwrestling.blogspot.in/2010/06/guru-jasram-jis-akhar...

 

maptia.com/suvra/stories/the-ancient-art-of-kushti

Credit: SNZ

Seeing the poise and graceful elegance of the beautiful Great Blue Heron is a treat to behold, and we never tire of quietly watching them. Sometimes, these regal waders would stand in one spot for the longest time, with nary of twitch, then suddenly enter into the hunting stance and stride through the water, as they seek fish of all sizes . . . And when the target is spotted, the lightening quick strike beneath the surface with the long, deadly beak, is an amazing sight. Depending on the size of the catch, they would either bite onto the prey and gulp it down, or pierce it, if too large, at which point they would often find a nearby land area so that the fish can be slid off the beak with the foot and then consumed. This day, however, we spotted them high up in the sky as they were leaving the marsh area to roost elsewhere. Watching the elegance of this aerial dance was truly a sight to behold.

Mill Creek Marsh, with its vast array of wildlife, never ceases to amaze visitors of nature’s wonders, right here in the great metropolis. Seasonal changes always keep things interesting and fresh, with the wide range of migratory birds, furry critters, reptiles, insects, and flowers plus other plants appearing at different times of the year.

What makes the central landscape so unique is the fact that it was once a thriving white cedar forest centuries ago, only to be altered by man, but leaving the resilient stumps, hauntingly protruding from the marsh waters, while dramatically altering the scenery depending on the tide level and weather conditions. It is one of the most fascinating landscapes for photographers and nature enthusiasts. Magic hour—early in the morning or later in the day—is simply magnificent here, and the views toward any direction are unlike anything else. The lower tide stumps and the overall landscape is enhanced with the rich tones during those periods.

The main circuit trail is slightly over a mile in length, and the view of the aforementioned is always present. In addition, the New York City skyscrapers to the east can also be quite rewarding, with varying moods at any given time.

Check out some of the SETS related to the Meadowlands, including Mill Creek Marsh, Richard DeKorte Park, Mill Creek Point, and Laurel Hill Park.

ALSO, CHECK OUT OUR OTHER ALBUMS FOR SOME GREAT LOCALES AND SUBJECTS . . .

 

Old City

Philadelphia PA

www.thrivecollective.org/portfolio/bsswa-voice-of-the-bronx/

Thrive Collective returned to BSSWA for a second consecutive year, and brought street art legend Sonic BAD to help us develop a Street Art 101 curriculum. The results are breathtaking, as approximately 180 students collaborated with Sonic to bring their vision to life.

orchids bloom time

In once thriving cities in America & Europe, the growing poor are being called 'artists' by local governments, poverty is being transformed into 'artiness,' & the assistance once given to this new class of arty folks is being withdrawn, including shelter & food.

 

The police & military are fully armed & ready - but still getting more weapons & heavy armor - with which to crush resistance & impose Decent Artfulness should more than 3 people gather in any one place to ask for bread & potatoes. When only 3 people refuse to be Properly Artful, clubbing them may be a sufficient instructive inducement, but more than 3 may lead to stronger pedagogy, such as shooting them with rubber bullets, spraying them with toxic chemicals, running them down with tanks, or providing them with lessons taught by militarized robots made by iRobot Corporation, which also makes Roomba vacuum cleaners.

 

If some of the resistant arties attempt to leave the classroom cordoned off in the steet, Insitu, Inc. drones (a Boeing company) of various sizes & types may be used to quickly teach them that dutiful artiness is good.

 

Artiness is very attractive to monied tourists, who love to buy cheap as well as sell dear. Tourism is also much less messy - cleaner - than industry, which has been shipped elsewhere so that the arty will not have to work at dirty jobs. Arty cities truly sparkle in the moonlight. Mayor Wowerite, Berlin, is making Germany's heart sparkle, by getting rid of work, jobs & welfare with the great, precise efficiency his nation is noted for. He is beloved by everyone who buys cheap - fondly, they call him Wowi.

 

We now come to 1935 in America, a wonderful year in which jobs were gloriously at an all time low due to the Herculean efforts of capitalism & its leading lights. A song was written - a very arty song - that arties holding tin cups while standing in lines in all major cities worldwide could listen to while awaiting some nice soup, if any was left. It's Moon Over Miami! folks, once again the theme song of Artiness, really better than the soup & here performed by The Crooner Himself, Bing Crosby, who when not crooning was thrashing & beating his children & wives in practice of what he knew was best, as so fortunately & admirably Obama, Cameron, Boehner & Wowi know today.

 

Theme Music for the Human Future

www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1nTIPGdM3g

 

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Kathmandu is the capital and largest municipality of Nepal. It is the only city of Nepal with the administrative status of Mahanagar (Metropolitan City), as compared to Upa-Mahanagar (Sub-Metropolitan City) or Nagar (City). Kathmandu is the core of Nepal's largest urban agglomeration located in the Kathmandu Valley consisting of Lalitpur, Kirtipur, Madhyapur Thimi, Bhaktapur and a number of smaller communities. Kathmandu is also known informally as "KTM" or the "tri-city". According to the 2011 census, Kathmandu Metropolitan City has a population of 975.453 and measures 49,45 square kilometres.

 

The city stands at an elevation of approximately 1.400 metres in the bowl-shaped Kathmandu Valley of central Nepal. It is surrounded by four major hills: Shivapuri, Phulchoki, Nagarjun, and Chandragiri. Kathmandu Valley is part of three districts (Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur), has the highest population density in the country, and is home to about a twelfth of Nepal's population.

 

Historically, the Kathmandu Valley and adjoining areas were known as Nepal Mandala. Until the 15th century, Bhaktapur was its capital when two other capitals, Kathmandu and Lalitpur, were established. During the Rana and Shah eras, British historians called the valley itself "Nepal Proper". Today, Kathmandu is not only the capital of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, but also the headquarters of the Bagmati Zone and the Central Development Region of Nepal.

 

Kathmandu is the gateway to tourism in Nepal. It is also the hub of the country's economy. It has the most advanced infrastructure of any urban area in Nepal, and its economy is focused on tourism, which accounted for 3.8% of Nepal's GDP in 1995–96. Tourism in Kathmandu declined thereafter during a period of political unrest, but since then has improved. In 2013, Kathmandu was ranked third among the top 10 travel destinations on the rise in the world by TripAdvisor, and ranked first in Asia.

 

The city has a rich history, spanning nearly 2000 years, as inferred from inscriptions found in the valley. Religious and cultural festivities form a major part of the lives of people residing in Kathmandu. Most of Kathmandu's people follow Hinduism and many others follow Buddhism. There are people of other religious beliefs as well, giving Kathmandu a cosmopolitan culture. Nepali is the most commonly spoken language in the city. English is understood by Kathmandu's educated residents. Kathmandu was devastated by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake on April 25, 2015.

 

ETYMOLOGY

The city of Kathmandu is named after Kasthamandap temple, that stood in Durbar Square. In Sanskrit, Kastha (काष्ठ) means "wood" and Mandap (/मण्डप) means "covered shelter". This temple, also known as Maru Satal (in ″Newar language″), was built in 1596 by King Laxmi Narsingh Malla. The two-storey structure was made entirely of wood, and used no iron nails nor supports. According to legend, all the timber used to build the pagoda was obtained from a single tree. The structure unfortunately collapsed during the major earthquake in April 2015.

 

The colophons of ancient manuscripts, dated as late as the 20th century, refer to Kathmandu as Kasthamandap Mahanagar in Nepal Mandala. Mahanagar means "great city". The city is called "Kasthamandap" in a vow that Buddhist priests still recite to this day. Thus, Kathmandu is also known as Kasthamandap. During medieval times, the city was sometimes called Kantipur (कान्तिपुर). This name is derived from two Sanskrit words - Kanti and pur. "Kanti" is one of the names of the Goddess Lakshmi, and "pur" means place.

 

Among the indigenous Newar people, Kathmandu is known as Yen Desa (येँ देश), and Patan and Bhaktapur are known as Yala Desa (यल देश) and Khwopa Desa (ख्वप देश). "Yen" is the shorter form of Yambu (यम्बु), which originally referred to the northern half of Kathmandu.

 

HISTORY

Archaeological excavations in parts of Kathmandu have found evidence of ancient civilizations. The oldest of these findings is a statue, found in Maligaon, that was dated at 185 AD. The excavation of Dhando Chaitya uncovered a brick with an inscription in Brahmi script. Archaeologists believe it is two thousand years old. Stone inscriptions are an ubiquitous element at heritage sites and are key sources for the history of Nepal

 

The earliest Western reference to Kathmandu appears in an account of Jesuit Fathers Johann Grueber and Albert d'Orville. In 1661, they passed through Nepal on their way from Tibet to India, and reported that they reached "Cadmendu, the capital of the Kingdom of Necbal".

 

ANCIENT HISTORY

The ancient history of Kathmandu is described in its traditional myths and legends. According to Swayambhu Purana, the present day Kathmandu was once a lake called Nagdaha. The lake was drained by Manjusri, who established a city called Manjupattan and made Dharmakar the ruler of the land.

 

Kotirudra Samhita of Shiva Purana, Chapter 11, shloka 18 refers to the place as Nayapala city famous for its Pashupati Shivalinga. The name Nepal probably originates from this city Nayapala.

 

Very few historical records exist of the period before the medieval Licchavis rulers. According to Gopalraj Vansawali, a genealogy of Nepali monarchs, the rulers of Kathmandu Valley before the Licchavis were Gopalas, Mahispalas, Aabhirs, Kirants, and Somavanshi. The Kirata dynasty was established by Yalamber. During the Kirata era, a settlement called Yambu existed in the northern half of old Kathmandu. In some of the Sino-Tibetan languages, Kathmandu is still called Yambu. Another smaller settlement called Yengal was present in the southern half of old Kathmandu, near Manjupattan. During the reign of the seventh Kirata ruler, Jitedasti, Buddhist monks entered Kathmandu valley and established a forest monastery at Sankhu.

 

MEDIEVAL HISTORY

LICCHAVI ERA

The Licchavis from the Indo-Gangetic plain migrated north and defeated the Kiratas, establishing the Licchavi dynasty. During this era, following the genocide of Shakyas in Lumbini by Virudhaka, the survivors migrated north and entered the forest monastery in Sankhu masquerading as Koliyas. From Sankhu, they migrated to Yambu and Yengal (Lanjagwal and Manjupattan) and established the first permanent Buddhist monasteries of Kathmandu. This created the basis of Newar Buddhism, which is the only surviving Sanskrit-based Buddhist tradition in the world. With their migration, Yambu was called Koligram and Yengal was called Dakshin Koligram during most of the Licchavi era.Eventually, the Licchavi ruler Gunakamadeva merged Koligram and Dakshin Koligram, founding the city of Kathmandu. The city was designed in the shape of Chandrahrasa, the sword of Manjushri. The city was surrounded by eight barracks guarded by Ajimas. One of these barracks is still in use at Bhadrakali (in front of Singha Durbar). The city served as an important transit point in the trade between India and Tibet, leading to tremendous growth in architecture. Descriptions of buildings such as Managriha, Kailaskut Bhawan, and Bhadradiwas Bhawan have been found in the surviving journals of travelers and monks who lived during this era. For example, the famous 7th-century Chinese traveller Xuanzang described Kailaskut Bhawan, the palace of the Licchavi king Amshuverma. The trade route also led to cultural exchange as well. The artistry of the Newar people - the indigenous inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley - became highly sought after during this era, both within the Valley and throughout the greater Himalayas. Newar artists travelled extensively throughout Asia, creating religious art for their neighbors. For example, Araniko led a group of his compatriot artists through Tibet and China. Bhrikuti, the princess of Nepal who married Tibetan monarch Songtsän Gampo, was instrumental in introducing Buddhism to Tibet.

 

MALLA ERA

The Licchavi era was followed by the Malla era. Rulers from Tirhut, upon being attacked by Muslims, fled north to the Kathmandu valley. They intermarried with Nepali royalty, and this led to the Malla era. The early years of the Malla era were turbulent, with raids and attacks from Khas and Turk Muslims. There was also a devastating earthquake which claimed the lives of a third of Kathmandu's population, including the king Abhaya Malla. These disasters led to the destruction of most of the architecture of the Licchavi era (such as Mangriha and Kailashkut Bhawan), and the loss of literature collected in various monasteries within the city. Despite the initial hardships, Kathmandu rose to prominence again and, during most of the Malla era, dominated the trade between India and Tibet. Nepali currency became the standard currency in trans-Himalayan trade.

 

During the later part of the Malla era, Kathmandu Valley comprised four fortified cities: Kantipur, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, and Kirtipur. These served as the capitals of the Malla confederation of Nepal. These states competed with each other in the arts, architecture, aesthetics, and trade, resulting in tremendous development. The kings of this period directly influenced or involved themselves in the construction of public buildings, squares, and temples, as well as the development of water spouts, the institutionalization of trusts (called guthis), the codification of laws, the writing of dramas, and the performance of plays in city squares. Evidence of an influx of ideas from India, Tibet, China, Persia, and Europe among other places can be found in a stone inscription from the time of king Pratap Malla. Books have been found from this era that describe their tantric tradition (e.g. Tantrakhyan), medicine (e.g. Haramekhala), religion (e.g. Mooldevshashidev), law, morals, and history. Amarkosh, a Sanskrit-Nepal Bhasa dictionary from 1381 AD, was also found. Architecturally notable buildings from this era include Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, the former durbar of Kirtipur, Nyatapola, Kumbheshwar, the Krishna temple, and others.

 

MODERN ERA

EARLY SHAH RULE

The Gorkha Kingdom ended the Malla confederation after the Battle of Kathmandu in 1768. This marked the beginning of the modern era in Kathmandu. The Battle of Kirtipur was the start of the Gorkha conquest of the Kathmandu Valley. Kathmandu was adopted as the capital of the Gorkha empire, and the empire itself was dubbed Nepal. During the early part of this era, Kathmandu maintained its distinctive culture. Buildings with characteristic Nepali architecture, such as the nine-story tower of Basantapur, were built during this era. However, trade declined because of continual war with neighboring nations. Bhimsen Thapa supported France against Great Britain; this led to the development of modern military structures, such as modern barracks in Kathmandu. The nine-storey tower Dharahara was originally built during this era.

 

RANA RULE

Rana rule over Nepal started with the Kot Massacre, which occurred near Hanuman Dhoka Durbar. During this massacre, most of Nepal's high-ranking officials were massacred by Jang Bahadur Rana and his supporters. Another massacre, the Bhandarkhal Massacre, was also conducted by Kunwar and his supporters in Kathmandu. During the Rana regime, Kathmandu's alliance shifted from anti-British to pro-British; this led to the construction of the first buildings in the style of Western European architecture. The most well-known of these buildings include Singha Durbar, Garden of Dreams, Shital Niwas, and the old Narayanhiti palace. The first modern commercial road in the Kathmandu Valley, the New Road, was also built during this era. Trichandra College (the first college of Nepal), Durbar School (the first modern school of Nepal), and Bir Hospital (the first hospital of Nepal) were built in Kathmandu during this era. Rana rule was marked by tyranny, debauchery, economic exploitation and religious persecution.

 

GEOGRAPHY

Kathmandu is located in the northwestern part of Kathmandu Valley to the north of the Bagmati River and covers an area of 50,67 square kilometres. The average elevation is 1.400 metres above sea level. The city is directly bounded by several other municipalities of the Kathmandu valley: south of the Bagmati by Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City (Patan) with which it today forms one urban area surrounded by a ring road, to the southwest by Kirtipur Municipality and to the east by Madyapur Thimi Municipality. To the north the urban area extends into several Village Development Committees. However, the urban agglomeration extends well beyond the neighboring municipalities, e. g. to Bhaktapur and just about covers the entire Kathmandu valley.

 

Kathmandu is dissected by eight rivers, the main river of the valley, the Bagmati and its tributaries, of which the Bishnumati, Dhobi Khola, Manohara Khola, Hanumant Khola, and Tukucha Khola are predominant. The mountains from where these rivers originate are in the elevation range of 1.500–3.000 metres, and have passes which provide access to and from Kathmandu and its valley. An ancient canal once flowed from Nagarjuna hill through Balaju to Kathmandu; this canal is now extinct.

 

Kathmandu and its valley are in the Deciduous Monsoon Forest Zone (altitude range of 1.200–2.100 metres), one of five vegetation zones defined for Nepal. The dominant tree species in this zone are oak, elm, beech, maple and others, with coniferous trees at higher altitude.

 

TOURISM

Tourism is considered another important industry in Nepal. This industry started around 1950, as the country's political makeup changed and ended the country's isolation from the rest of the world. In 1956, air transportation was established and the Tribhuvan Highway, between Kathmandu and Raxaul (at India's border), was started. Separate organizations were created in Kathmandu to promote this activity; some of these include the Tourism Development Board, the Department of Tourism and the Civil Aviation Department. Furthermore, Nepal became a member of several international tourist associations. Establishing diplomatic relations with other nations further accentuated this activity. The hotel industry, travel agencies, training of tourist guides, and targeted publicity campaigns are the chief reasons for the remarkable growth of this industry in Nepal, and in Kathmandu in particular.

 

Since then, tourism in Nepal has thrived; it is sometimes called the "third religion" of Nepal. It is the country's most important industry. Tourism is a major source of income for most of the people in the city, with several hundred thousand visitors annually. Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims from all over the world visit Kathmandu's religious sites such as Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath and Budhanilkantha. From a mere 6179 tourists in 1961–62, the number jumped to 491504 in 1999-2000. With the end of Maoist insuregency period in 2009 there was a significant rise of 509,956 tourist arrivals. Since then, tourism has improved as the country turned into a Democratic Republic. In economic terms, the foreign exchange registered 3.8% of the GDP in 1995–96 but then started declining. The high level of tourism is attributed to the natural grandeur of the Himalayas and the rich cultural heritage of the country.

 

The neighborhood of Thamel is Kathmandu's primary "traveler's ghetto", packed with guest houses, restaurants, shops, and bookstores, catering to tourists. Another neighborhood of growing popularity is Jhamel, a name for Jhamsikhel coined to rhyme with Thamel. Jhochhen Tol, also known as Freak Street, is Kathmandu's original traveler's haunt, made popular by the hippies of the 1960s and 1970s; it remains a popular alternative to Thamel. Asan is a bazaar and ceremonial square on the old trade route to Tibet, and provides a fine example of a traditional neighborhood.

With the opening of the tourist industry after the change in the political scenario of Nepal in 1950, the hotel industry drastically improved. Now Kathmandu boasts several five-star hotels like Hyatt Regency, Hotel Yak & Yeti, The Everest Hotel, Hotel Radisson, Hotel De L'Annapurna, The Malla Hotel, Shangri-La Hotel (which is not operated by the Shangri-La Hotel Group) and The Shanker Hotel. There are several four-star hotels such as Hotel Vaishali, Hotel Narayani, The Blue Star and Grand Hotel. The Garden Hotel, Hotel Ambassador, and Aloha Inn are among the three-star hotels in Kathmandu. Hotels like Hyatt Regency, De L'Annapurna and Hotel Yak & Yeti are among the five-star hotels providing casinos as well.

 

DEMOGRAPHICS

Kathmandu's urban cosmopolitan character has made it the most populous city in Nepal, recording a population of 671846 residents living in 235387 households in the metropolitan area, according to the 2001 census. According to the National Population Census of 2011, the total population of Kathmandu city was 975543 with an annual growth rate of 6,12% with respect to the population figure of 2001. 70% of the total population residing in Kathmandu are aged between 15 and 59.

 

Over the years the city has been home to people of various ethnicities, resulting in a range of different traditions and cultural practices. In one decade, the population increased from 427045 in 1991 to 671805 in 2001. The population was projected to reach 915071 in 2011 and 1.319.597 by 2021. To keep up this population growth, the KMC-controlled area of 5,076.6 hectares has expanded to 8.214 hectares in 2001. With this new area, the population density which was 85 in 1991 is still 85 in 2001; it is likely to jump to 111 in 2011 and 161 in 2021.

 

ETHNIC GROUPS

The largest ethnic groups are Newar (29.6%), Matwali (25.1% Sunuwar, Gurung, Magars, Tamang etc.), Khas Brahmins (20.51%) and Chettris (18.5%) . Tamangs originating from surrounding hill districts can be seen in Kathmandu. More recently, other hill ethnic groups and Caste groups from Terai have become present as well in vast majority. The major languages are Nepali, Nepal Bhasa and English is understood by about 30% of the people. The major religions are Hinduism and Buddhism.

 

The linguistic profile of Kathmandu underwent drastic changes during the Shah dynasty's rule because of its strong bias towards the Brahminic culture. Sanskrit language therefore was preferred and people were encouraged to learn it even by attending Sanskrit learning centers in Terai. Sanskrit schools were specially set up in Kathmandu and in the Terai region to inculcate traditional Hindu culture and practices originated from Nepal.

 

ARCHITECTURE AND CITYSCAPE

The ancient trade route between India and Tibet that passed through Kathmandu enabled a fusion of artistic and architectural traditions from other cultures to be amalgamated with local art and architecture. The monuments of Kathmandu City have been influenced over the centuries by Hindu and Buddhist religious practices. The architectural treasure of the Kathmandu valley has been categorized under the well-known seven groups of heritage monuments and buildings. In 2006 UNESCO declared these seven groups of monuments as a World Heritage Site (WHS). The seven monuments zones cover an area of 188,95 hectares, with the buffer zone extending to 239,34 hectares. The Seven Monument Zones (Mzs) inscribed originally in 1979 and with a minor modification in 2006 are Durbar squares of Hanuman Dhoka, Patan and Bhaktapur, Hindu temples of Pashupatinath and Changunarayan, the Buddhist stupas of Swayambhu and Boudhanath.

 

DURBAR SQUARES

The literal meaning of Durbar Square is a "place of palaces". There are three preserved Durbar Squares in Kathmandu valley and one unpreserved in Kirtipur. The Durbar Square of Kathmandu is located in the old city and has heritage buildings representing four kingdoms (Kantipur, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kirtipur); the earliest is the Licchavi dynasty. The complex has 50 temples and is distributed in two quadrangles of the Durbar Square. The outer quadrangle has the Kasthamandap, Kumari Ghar, and Shiva-Parvati Temple; the inner quadrangle has the Hanuman Dhoka palace. The squares were severely damaged in the April 2015 Nepal earthquake.

 

Hanuman Dhoka is a complex of structures with the Royal Palace of the Malla kings and of the Shah dynasty. It is spread over five acres. The eastern wing, with ten courtyards, is the oldest part, dating to the mid-16th century. It was expanded by King Pratap Malla in the 17th century with many temples. The royal family lived in this palace until 1886 when they moved to Narayanhiti Palace. The stone inscription outside is in fifteen languages.

 

Kumari Ghar is a palace in the center of the Kathmandu city, next to the Durbar square where a Royal Kumari selected from several Kumaris resides. Kumari, or Kumari Devi, is the tradition of worshipping young pre-pubescent girls as manifestations of the divine female energy or devi in South Asian countries. In Nepal the selection process is very rigorous. Kumari is believed to be the bodily incarnation of the goddess Taleju (the Nepali name for Durga) until she menstruates, after which it is believed that the goddess vacates her body. Serious illness or a major loss of blood from an injury are also causes for her to revert to common status. The current Royal Kumari, Matina Shakya, age four, was installed in October 2008 by the Maoist government that replaced the monarchy.

 

Kasthamandap is a three-storeyed temple enshrining an image of Gorakhnath. It was built in the 16th century in pagoda style. The name of Kathmandu is a derivative of the word Kasthamandap. It was built under the reign of King Laxmi Narsingha Malla. Kasthamandap stands at the intersection of two ancient trade routes linking India and Tibet at Maru square. It was originally built as a rest house for travelers.

 

PASHUPATINATH TEMPLE

The Pashupatinath Temple is a famous 5th century Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva (Pashupati). Located on the banks of the Bagmati River in the eastern part of Kathmandu, Pashupatinath Temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Kathmandu. It served as the seat of national deity, Lord Pashupatinath, until Nepal was secularized. However, a significant part of the temple was destroyed by Mughal invaders in the 14th century and little or nothing remains of the original 5th-century temple exterior. The temple as it stands today was built in the 19th century, although the image of the bull and the black four-headed image of Pashupati are at least 300 years old. The temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Shivaratri, or the night of Lord Shiva, is the most important festival that takes place here, attracting thousands of devotees and sadhus.

 

Believers in Pashupatinath (mainly Hindus) are allowed to enter the temple premises, but non-Hindu visitors are allowed to view the temple only from the across the Bagmati River. The priests who perform the services at this temple have been Brahmins from Karnataka, South India since the time of Malla king Yaksha Malla. This tradition is believed to have been started at the request of Adi Shankaracharya who sought to unify the states of Bharatam (Unified India) by encouraging cultural exchange. This procedure is followed in other temples around India, which were sanctified by Adi Shankaracharya.

 

The temple is built in the pagoda style of architecture, with cubic constructions, carved wooden rafters (tundal) on which they rest, and two-level roofs made of copper and gold.

 

BOUDHANATH

The Boudhanath, (also written Bouddhanath, Bodhnath, Baudhanath or the Khāsa Chaitya), is one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Nepal, along with Swayambhu. It is a very popular tourist site. Boudhanath is known as Khāsti by Newars and as Bauddha or Bodhnāth by speakers of Nepali. Located about 11 km from the center and northeastern outskirts of Kathmandu, the stupa's massive mandala makes it one of the largest spherical stupas in Nepal. Boudhanath became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.The base of the stupa has 108 small depictions of the Dhyani Buddha Amitabha. It is surrounded with a brick wall with 147 niches, each with four or five prayer wheels engraved with the mantra, om mani padme hum. At the northern entrance where visitors must pass is a shrine dedicated to Ajima, the goddess of smallpox. Every year the stupa attracts many Tibetan Buddhist pilgrims who perform full body prostrations in the inner lower enclosure, walk around the stupa with prayer wheels, chant, and pray. Thousands of prayer flags are hoisted up from the top of the stupa downwards and dot the perimeter of the complex. The influx of many Tibetan refugees from China has seen the construction of over 50 Tibetan gompas (monasteries) around Boudhanath.

 

SWAYAMBHU

Swayambhu is a Buddhist stupa atop a hillock at the northwestern part of the city. This is among the oldest religious sites in Nepal. Although the site is considered Buddhist, it is revered by both Buddhists and Hindus. The stupa consists of a dome at the base; above the dome, there is a cubic structure with the eyes of Buddha looking in all four directions.[clarification needed] There are pentagonal Toran above each of the four sides, with statues engraved on them. Behind and above the torana there are thirteen tiers. Above all the tiers, there is a small space above which lies a gajur.

 

CULTURE

ARTS

Kathmandu valley is described as "an enormous treasure house of art and sculptures", which are made of wood, stone, metal, and terracotta, and found in profusion in temples, shrines, stupas, gompas, chaityasm and palaces. The art objects are also seen in street corners, lanes, private courtyards, and in open ground. Most art is in the form of icons of gods and goddesses. Kathmandu valley has had this art treasure very long, but received worldwide recognition only after the country opened its doors to the outside world in 1950.

 

The religious art of Nepal and Kathmandu in particular consists of an iconic symbolism of the Mother Goddesses such as: Bhavani, Durga, Gaja-Lakshmi, Hariti-Sitala, Mahsishamardini, Saptamatrika (seven mother goddesses), and Sri-Lakshmi(wealth-goddess). From the 3rd century BC, apart from the Hindu gods and goddesses, Buddhist monuments from the Ashokan period (it is said that Ashoka visited Nepal in 250 BC) have embellished Nepal in general and the valley in particular. These art and architectural edifices encompass three major periods of evolution: the Licchavi or classical period (500 to 900 AD), the post-classical period (1000 to 1400 AD), with strong influence of the Palla art form; the Malla period (1400 onwards) that exhibited explicitly tantric influences coupled with the art of Tibetan Demonology.

 

A broad typology has been ascribed to the decorative designs and carvings created by the people of Nepal. These artists have maintained a blend of Hinduism and Buddhism. The typology, based on the type of material used are: Stone Art, Metal Art, Wood Art, Terracotta Art, and Painting.

 

MUSEUMS

Kathmandu is home to a number of museums and art galleries, including the National Museum of Nepal and the Natural History Museum of Nepal. Nepal's art and architecture is an amalgamation of two ancient religions, Hinduism and Buddhhism. These are amply reflected in the many temples, shrines, stupas, monasteries, and palaces in the seven well-defined Monument Zones of the Kathmandu valley recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This amalgamation is also reflected in the planning and exhibitions in museums and art galleries throughout Kathmandu and its sister cities of Patan and Bhaktapur. The museums display unique artifacts and paintings from the 5th century CE to the present day, including archeological exportation.

  

KATHMANDU MUSEUMS ABD ART GALLERIES INCLUDE:

The National Museum

The Natural History Museum

Hanumandhoka Palace Complex

The Kaiser Library

The National Art Gallery

The NEF-ART (Nepal Fine Art) Gallery

The Nepal Art Council Gallery

Narayanhity Palace Museum

The Taragaon Museum

 

The National Museum is located in the western part of Kathmandu, near the Swayambhunath stupa in an historical building. This building was constructed in the early 19th century by General Bhimsen Thapa. It is the most important museum in the country, housing an extensive collection of weapons, art and antiquities of historic and cultural importance. The museum was established in 1928 as a collection house of war trophies and weapons, and the initial name of this museum was Chhauni Silkhana, meaning "the stone house of arms and ammunition". Given its focus, the museum contains an extensive quantity of weapons, including locally made firearms used in wars, leather cannons from the 18th–19th century, and medieval and modern works in wood, bronze, stone and paintings.

 

The Natural History Museum is located in the southern foothills of Swayambhunath hill and has a sizeable collection of different species of animals, butterflies, and plants. The museum is noted for its display of species, from prehistoric shells to stuffed animals.

 

The Tribhuvan Museum contains artifacts related to the King Tribhuvan (1906–1955). It has a variety of pieces including his personal belongings, letters and papers, memorabilia related to events he was involved in and a rare collection of photos and paintings of Royal family members. The Mahendra Museum is dedicated to king Mahendra of Nepal (1920–1972). Like the Tribhuvan Museum, it includes his personal belongings such as decorations, stamps, coins and personal notes and manuscripts, but it also has structural reconstructions of his cabinet room and office chamber. The Hanumandhoka Palace, a lavish medieval palace complex in the Durbar, contains three separate museums of historic importance. These museums include the Birendra museum, which contains items related to the second-last monarch, Birendra of Nepal.

 

The enclosed compound of the Narayanhity Palace Museum is in the north-central part of Kathmandu. "Narayanhity" comes from Narayana, a form of the Hindu god Lord Vishnu, and Hiti, meaning "water spout" (Vishnu's temple is located opposite the palace, and the water spout is located east of the main entrance to the precinct). Narayanhity was a new palace, in front of the old palace built in 1915, and was built in 1970 in the form of a contemporary Pagoda. It was built on the occasion of the marriage of King Birenda Bir Bikram Shah, then heir apparent to the throne. The southern gate of the palace is at the crossing of Prithvipath and Darbar Marg roads. The palace area covers 30 hectares and is fully secured with gates on all sides. This palace was the scene of the Nepali royal massacre. After the fall of the monarchy, it was converted to a museum.The Taragaon Museum presents the modern history of the Kathmandu Valley. It seeks to document 50 years of research and cultural heritage conservation of the Kathmandu Valley, documenting what artists photographers architects anthropologists from abroad had contributed in the second half of the 20th century. The actual structure of the Museum showcases restoration and rehabilitation efforts to preserve the built heritage of Kathmandu. It was designed by Carl Pruscha (master-planner of the Kathmandy Valley) in 1970 and constructed in 1971. Restoration works began in 2010 to rehabilitate the Taragaon hostel into the Taragaon Museum. The design uses local brick along with modern architectural design elements, as well as the use of circle, triangles and squares. The Museum is within a short walk from the Boudhnath stupa, which itself can be seen from the Museum tower.

 

ART GALLERIES

Kathmandu is a center for art in Nepal, displaying the work of contemporary artists in the country and also collections of historical artists. Patan in particular is an ancient city noted for its fine arts and crafts. Art in Kathmandu is vibrant, demonstrating a fusion of traditionalism and modern art, derived from a great number of national, Asian, and global influences. Nepali art is commonly divided into two areas: the idealistic traditional painting known as Paubhas in Nepal and perhaps more commonly known as Thangkas in Tibet, closely linked to the country's religious history and on the other hand the contemporary western-style painting, including nature-based compositions or abstract artwork based on Tantric elements and social themes of which painters in Nepal are well noted for. Internationally, the British-based charity, the Kathmandu Contemporary Art Centre is involved with promoting arts in Kathmandu.

 

Kathmandu contains many notable art galleries. The NAFA Gallery, operated by the Arts and crafts Department of the Nepal Academy is housed in Sita Bhavan, a neo-classical old Rana palace.

 

The Srijana Contemporary Art Gallery, located inside the Bhrikutimandap Exhibition grounds, hosts the work of contemporary painters and sculptors, and regularly organizes exhibitions. It also runs morning and evening classes in the schools of art. Also of note is the Moti Azima Gallery, located in a three storied building in Bhimsenthan which contains an impressive collection of traditional utensils and handmade dolls and items typical of a medieval Newar house, giving an important insight into Nepali history. The J Art Gallery is also located in Kathmandu, near the Royal Palace in Durbarmarg, Kathmandu and displays the artwork of eminent, established Nepali painters. The Nepal Art Council Gallery, located in the Babar Mahal, on the way to Tribhuvan International Airport contains artwork of both national and international artists and extensive halls regularly used for art exhibitions.

 

CUISINE

The staple food of most of Kathmanduites is dal bhat. It consists of rice and lentil soup, generally served with vegetable curries, achar and sometimes Chutney. Momo, a type of Nepali version of Tibetan dumpling, has become prominent in Nepal with many street vendors selling it. It is one of the most popular fast foods in Kathmandu. Various Nepali variants of momo including buff (i.e. buffalo) momo, chicken momo, and vegetarian momo are famous in Kathmandu. Dal Bhaat is the local cuisine of Kathmandu.

 

Most of the cuisines found in Kathmandu are non-vegetarian. However, the practice of vegetarianism is not uncommon, and vegetarian cuisines can be found throughout the city. Consumption of beef is very uncommon and considered taboo in many places. Buff (meat of water buffalo) is very common. There is a strong tradition of buff consumption in Kathmandu, especially among Newars, which is not found in other parts of Nepal. Consumption of pork was considered taboo until a few decades ago. Due to the intermixing with Kirat cuisine from eastern Nepal, pork has found a place in Kathmandu dishes. A fringe population of devout Hindus and Muslims consider it taboo. The Muslims forbid eating buff as from Quran while Hindus eat all varieties except Cow's meat as the consider Cow to be a goddess and symbol of purity. The chief breakfast for locals and visitors is mostly Momo or Chowmein.

 

Kathmandu had only one restaurant in 1955. A large number of restaurants in Kathmandu have since opened, catering Nepali cuisine, Tibetan cuisine, Chinese cuisine and Indian cuisine in particular. Many other restaurants have opened to accommodate locals, expatriates, and tourists. The growth of tourism in Kathmandu has led to culinary creativity and the development of hybrid foods to accommodate for tourists such as American chop suey, which is a sweet-and-sour sauce with crispy noodles with a fried egg commonly added on top and other westernized adaptations of traditional cuisine. Continental cuisine can be found in selected places. International chain restaurants are rare, but some outlets of Pizza Hut and KFC have recently opened there. It also has several outlets of the international ice-cream chain Baskin-Robbins

 

Kathmandu has a larger proportion of tea drinkers than coffee drinkers. Tea is widely served but is extremely weak by western standards. It is richer and contains tea leaves boiled with milk, sugar and spices. Alcohol is widely drunk, and there are numerous local variants of alcoholic beverages. But its use has been now reduced.refnational survey. Drinking and driving is illegal, and authorities have a zero tolerance policy. Ailaa and thwon (alcohol made from rice) are the alcoholic beverages of Kathmandu, found in all the local bhattis (alcohol serving eateries). Chhyaang, tongba (fermented millet or barley) and rakshi are alcohols from other parts of Nepal which are found in Kathmandu. However, shops and bars in Kathmandu widely sell western and Nepali beers. Shops are forbidden to sell alcohol on the first two days and last two days of the Nepali month (Nepal Sambat).

 

FESTIVALS

Most of the fairs and festivals in Kathmandu originated in the Malla period or earlier. Traditionally, these festivals were celebrated by Newars. In recent years, these festivals have found wider participation from other Kathmanduites as well. As the capital of the Republic of Nepal, various national festivals are celebrated in Kathmandu. With mass migration to the city, the cultures of Khas from the west, Kirats from the east, Bon/Tibetan from the north, and Mithila from the south meet in the capital and mingle harmoniously. The festivities such as the Ghode (horse) Jatra, Indra Jatra, Dashain Durga Puja festivals, Shivratri and many more are observed by all Hindu and Buddhist communities of Kathmandu with devotional fervor and enthusiasm. Social regulation in the codes enacted incorporate Hindu traditions and ethics. These were followed by the Shah kings and previous kings, as devout Hindus and protectors of Buddhist religion.

 

Cultural continuity has been maintained for centuries in the exclusive worship of goddesses and deities in Kathmandu and the rest of the country. These deities include the Ajima, Taleju (or Tulja Bhavani), Digu taleju, and Kumari (the living goddess).[citation needed] The artistic edifices have now become places of worship in the everyday life of the people, therefore a roster is maintained to observe annual festivals. There are 133 festivals held in the year.

 

Some of the traditional festivals observed in Kathmandu, apart from those previously mentioned, are Bada Dashain, Tihar, Chhath, Maghe Sankranti, Naga Panchami, Janai Poornima, Pancha Dan, Teej/Rishi Panchami, Pahan Charhe, Jana Baha Dyah Jatra (White Machchhendranath Jatra), and Matatirtha Aunsi.

 

HINDUISM

Assumedly, together with the kingdom of Licchhavi (c. 400 to 750), Hinduism and the endogam social stratification of the Caste was established in Kathmandu Valley. The Pashupatinath Temple, Changu Narayan temple (the oldest), and the Kasthamandap are of particular importance to Hindus. Other notable Hindu temples in Kathmandu and the surrounding valley include Bajrayogini Temple, Dakshinkali Temple, Guhyeshwari Temple, and the Sobha Bhagwati shrine.

 

The Bagmati River which flows through Kathmandu is considered a holy river both by Hindus and Buddhists, and many Hindu temples are located on the banks of this river. The importance of the Bagmati also lies in the fact that Hindus are cremated on its banks, and Kirants are buried in the hills by its side. According to the Nepali Hindu tradition, the dead body must be dipped three times into the Bagmati before cremation. The chief mourner (usually the first son) who lights the funeral pyre must take a holy riverwater bath immediately after cremation. Many relatives who join the funeral procession also take bath in the Bagmati River or sprinkle the holy water on their bodies at the end of cremation as the Bagmati is believed to purify people spiritually.

 

BUDDHISM

Buddhism started in Kathmandu with the arrival of Buddhist monks during the time of Buddha (c. 563 - 483 BC). They started a forest monastery in Sankhu. This monastery was renovated by Shakyas after they fled genocide from Virudhaka (rule: 491-461 BC).

 

During the Hindu Lichchavi era (c. 400 to 750), various monasteries and orders were created which successively led to the formation of Newar Buddhism, which is still practiced in the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Sanskrit.

 

WIKIPEDIA

Instayay - Hong Kong's Thriving Instagram Community

 

Today is the 1st anniversary gathering of our very own Instagram community in Hong Kong, the 11th meet up since a year ago and going strong. Thanks to the founding members and friendly IGers, even though I joined only 3 photo walks so far, I feel like knowing them for a long time already, probably due to the constant feeds we shared and "liked" on daily basis.

 

The weather today was unbelievably great, casual hiking in Cheung Chau island and BBQ was just the right thing to do. I brought along my son and we shared a great time together, I thought he was bored but at the end of the day he said he was very happy, to be able to see a pirate's cave, play at the beach and meet new friends. He was quietly enjoying the father and son outing, loving it.

 

My trusted combo "Polaroid 110A + Fujifilm back" often works magic, just that I failed to find more time mingling with IGers and take those "wow" shots.

 

What a great day to lay on a beach drinking beer watching my kid playing sand, no words can describe it :)

 

Don't be fooled by his look, he was tired outside but happy inside :)

 

Earlier the day when his schoolmate was around on the hiking part, they took pictures by the shore, each of them had a Digital Harinezumi.

 

Cheung Chau is a beautiful island, except for computer electronics, you can almost find everything in this tiny island, old and new, mostly very local. Here's a fishing village.

 

You can almost certain that sooner or later, some of these images will be hard to find due to modernization.

 

The day before this trip, I got a sample Digital Harinezumi 3 for review, great timing. I made a strap for my kid out of scrap leather pieces and both of us are proud of the outcome.

 

While everybody was having fun BBQing, we found this weirdo Ken laying on the beach in strange posture. Later my son told me his butt was entirely exposed at the back, Ken is Ken you know :)

 

More on Scription blog: scription.typepad.com/blog/2012/03/instayay-hong-kongs-th...

Trondheim (UK: /ˈtrɒn(d)haɪm/ TRON(D)-hyme, US: /ˈtrɒnheɪm/ TRON-haym, Urban East Norwegian: [ˈtrɔ̂nː(h)æɪm]; Southern Sami: Tråante), historically Kaupangen, Nidaros, and Trondhjem (local pronunciation: [ˈtrɔ̂nːjæm]), is a city and municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. As of 2022, it had a population of 212,660. Trondheim is the third most populous municipality in Norway, and is the fourth largest urban area. Trondheim lies on the south shore of Trondheim Fjord at the mouth of the River Nidelva. Among the significant technology-oriented institutions headquartered in Trondheim are the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), the Foundation for Scientific and Industrial Research (SINTEF), the Geological Survey of Norway (NGU), and St. Olavs University Hospital.

 

The settlement was founded in 997 as a trading post and served as the capital of Norway from the Viking Age until 1217. From 1152 to 1537, the city was the seat of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nidaros; it then became, and has remained, the seat of the Lutheran Diocese of Nidaros and the site of the Nidaros Cathedral. It was incorporated in 1838. The current municipality was formed in 1964, when Trondheim merged with Byneset, Leinstrand, Strinda, and Tiller, and further expanded on 1 January 2020, when Trondheim merged with Klæbu.

 

Trondheim has a mild climate for its northerly latitude, resulting in moderate summers and winters that often remain above the freezing point in seaside areas. At higher elevations, though, the microclimate is colder and snowier.

 

The city functions as the seat of the County Mayor of Trøndelag county but not as its administrative centre (which is Steinkjer). This is designed to avoid making the county administration too centralized.

 

Trondheim is home to football club Rosenborg, Norway's most successful football club, and Granåsen Ski Centre, which has hosted the World Championship in Nordic Skiing.

 

Names and etymology

 

The city was established in 997 by Olav Tryggvason and it was originally named Nidaros (Old Norse: Niðaróss). The first element of the name was the local river Nid. The last element of the name was óss which meant "the mouth of a river". Thus the name meant "the outlet of the river Nid". Although the formal name was Nidaros, the city was commonly known as kaupangr, which means "city" or "marketplace", or more specificially kaupangr í Þróndheimi which means "the city in Trondheim". Trondheim (Old Norse: Þróndheimr) was the historic name for the whole district which is now known as Trøndelag. This is the area where the people were known as Trønder (þróndr). This district name Trondheim meant "the home of the Trønder people" (literally "Trønder-home") and Trøndelag (Old Norse: Þrǿndalǫg) originally meant the "law area of the Trønder people" (literally "Trønder-law"). The name of the Trønder people derives from the Old Norse word þróndr which is an old present participle of the verb þróask which means "to grow" or "to thrive".

 

During the late Middle Ages, the city name was commonly shortened to Þróndheimr, dropping the kaupanger part, and over time the name became Trondhjem, using the Dano-Norwegian spelling rather than the Old Norse spelling since the city was part of the Kingdom of Denmark-Norway for centuries.

 

On 21 December 1917, a royal resolution enacted the 1917 Norwegian language reforms. Around the time, many municipalities and cities had their names changed to "Norwegianize" the spelling and make them look less Danish. On 1 January 1919, the name of the local Church of Norway diocese was changed from Trondhjem stift to Nidaros bispedømme (English: Diocese of Nidaros). In 1924, the name of the Norwegian capital city was changed from Kristiania to Oslo, removing the name referencing a Danish King in favor of the very old name Oslo. In 1928, a referendum in Trondhjem was held on whether to keep the current name or to bring back the original name of Nidaros. The vote resulted in 17,163 votes in favour of Trondhjem and only 1,508 votes in favour of Nidaros. Despite this result, the Storting voted in 1929 to make some changes. The Trondhjem Cathedral would be changed to Nidaros Cathedral effective on 1 July 1929 and the name of the city would change to Nidaros starting on 1 January 1930. This change caused public outrage and even riots during 1930. This forced the Storting to reconsider this change. On 6 March 1931, the name was formally changed to Trondheim, using the medieval Norwegian spelling instead of the Danish version Trondhjem. The name of the diocese and cathedral, however, continued using the name Nidaros.

 

Trondheim was briefly named Drontheim during the Second World War as a German exonym.

 

History

 

Trondheim was named Kaupangen (English: market place or trading place) by Viking King Olav Tryggvason in 997 CE.[ Shortly after that, it came to be called Nidaros. Initially, it was frequently used as a military retainer (Old Norse: "hird"-man) of King Olav I. It was also frequently used as the king's seat and was Norway's capital until 1217.

 

People have lived in the region for thousands of years, as evidenced by the rock carvings in central Norway, the Nøstvet and Lihult cultures, and the Corded Ware culture. In ancient times, the kings of Norway were hailed in Trondheim at Øretinget, the place for the assembly of all free men by the mouth of the River Nidelva. Harald Fairhair (865–933) was hailed as the king here, as was his son, Haakon I, called 'the Good.' The battle of Kalvskinnet took place in Trondheim in 1179: King Sverre Sigurdsson and his Birkebeiner warriors were victorious against Erling Skakke (a rival to the throne). Some scholars believe that the famous Lewis chessmen, 12th-century chess pieces carved from walrus ivory that were found in the Hebrides and are now at the British Museum, may have been made in Trondheim.

 

From 1152, Trondheim was the seat of the Archbishop of Nidaros for Norway, which operated from the Archbishop's Palace. Due to the introduction of Lutheran Protestantism in 1537, the last archbishop, Olav Engelbrektsson, had to flee from the city to the Netherlands; he died in what today is Lier, Belgium.

 

From the 16th through the 19th centuries, the city was repeatedly ravaged by fires that caused widespread damage since many of its buildings were made of wood. The worst occurred in 1598, 1651, 1681, 1708, 1717 (twice), 1742, 1788, 1841 and 1842. The 1651 fire destroyed 90% of all buildings within the city limits. After the "Horneman Fire" in 1681, there was an almost total reconstruction of the city, overseen by General Johan Caspar von Cicignon, originally from Luxembourg. Broad avenues, such as Munkegata, were created, without regard for private property rights, to limit the damage from future fires. At the time, the city had a population of under 10,000 inhabitants, with most living in the downtown area.

 

After the Treaty of Roskilde on 26 February 1658, Trondheim and the rest of Trøndelag became Swedish territory briefly. However, the area was reconquered 10 months later. The conflict was finally settled by the Treaty of Copenhagen on 27 May 1660.

 

During the Second World War, Trondheim was occupied by Nazi Germany from 9 April 1940, the first day of the invasion of Norway, until the end of the war in Europe, 8 May 1945. The German invasion force consisted of the German cruiser Admiral Hipper, 4 destroyers and 1700 Austrian Mountain troops. Except for a coastal battery that opened fire, there was no resistance to the invasion, which began on 9 April at 5 AM. On 14 and 17 April, British and French forces landed near Trondheim in a failed attempt to liberate Trondheim, as part of the Namsos Campaign. During the occupation, Trondheim was the home of the notorious Norwegian Gestapo agent, Henry Rinnan, who operated from a nearby villa and infiltrated Norwegian resistance groups. The city and its citizens were subjected to harsh treatment by the occupying power, including the imposition of martial law in October 1942. During this time, the Germans turned the city and its environs into a major base for submarines (which included building the large submarine base and bunker DORA I), and contemplated a scheme to build a new city for 300,000 inhabitants, Nordstern ("Northern Star"), centred 15 kilometres (9 miles) southwest of Trondheim, near the wetlands of Øysand on the outskirts of Melhus municipality. This new metropolis was to be accompanied by a massively expanded version of the already existing naval base, which was intended to become the future primary stronghold of the German Kriegsmarine. A start was made on this enormous construction project, but it was far from completed when the war ended, and today, there are few physical remains of it.

 

Municipal history

 

The city of Trondheim was established on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). On 1 January 1864, part of Strinda (population: 1,229) was amalgamated with Trondheim. Then, on 1 January 1893, another part of Strinda (population: 4,097) was transferred to Trondheim. On 1 January 1952, the Lade area of Strinda (population: 2,230) was transferred to Trondheim. On 1 January 1964, a major municipal merger took place: the neighbouring municipalities of Leinstrand (population: 4,193), Byneset (population: 2,049), Strinda (population: 44,600), and Tiller (population: 3,595) were all merged with the city of Trondheim (population: 56,982), which nearly doubled the population of the municipality.[21] On 1 January 2020, the neighboring Klæbu Municipality (population: 6,050) was merged with Trondheim Municipality.

 

Geography

 

Trondheim is situated where the River Nidelva meets Trondheim Fjord with an excellent harbour and sheltered condition. In the Middle Ages the river was deep enough to be navigable by most boats. However, in the mid-17th century, an avalanche of mud and stones made it less navigable, and partly ruined the harbour. The municipality's highest elevation is the Storheia hill, 565 metres (1,854 ft) above sea level. At the summer solstice, the sun rises at 03:00 and sets at 23:40, but stays just below the horizon. Between 23 May and 19 July, when the sky is cloud-free, it remains light enough at night that no artificial lighting is needed outdoors. At the winter solstice, the sun rises at 10:01, stays very low above the horizon (at midday its altitude is slightly more than 3 degrees over the horizon), and sets at 14:31.

 

Cityscape and sites

 

Most of Trondheim city centre is scattered with small speciality shops. However, the main shopping area is concentrated around the pedestrianised streets Nordre gate (English: Northern street), Olav Tryggvasons gate and Thomas Angells gate even though the rest of the city centre is provided with everything from old, well-established companies to new, hip and trendy shops.

 

In the mid-to-late 1990s, the area surrounding the old drydock and ship construction buildings of the defunct Trondhjems mekaniske Værksted shipbuilding company at the Nedre Elvehavn was renovated and old industrial buildings were torn down to make way for condominiums. A shopping centre was also built, known as Solsiden (The Sunny Side). This is a popular residential and shopping area, especially for young people.

 

DORA 1 is a German submarine base that housed the 13th U-boat Flotilla during the Second World War occupation of Norway. Today the bunker houses various archives, among them the city archives, the university and state archives. More recently, DORA has been used as a concert venue.

 

Kristiansten Fortress, built 1681–1684, is located on a hill east of Trondheim. It repelled the invading Swedes in 1718, but was decommissioned in 1816 by Crown Prince Regent Charles John.

 

A statue of Olav Tryggvason, the founder of Trondheim, is located in the city's central square, mounted on top of an obelisk. The statue base is also a sun dial, but it is calibrated to UTC+1 so that the reading is inaccurate by one hour in the summer.

 

The islet Munkholmen is a popular tourist attraction and recreation site. The islet has served as a place of execution, a monastery, a fortress, prison, and a Second World War anti-aircraft gun station.

 

Stiftsgården is the royal residence in Trondheim, originally constructed in 1774 by Cecilie Christine Schøller. At 140 rooms constituting 4,000 square metres (43,056 sq ft), it is possibly the largest wooden building in Northern Europe and has been used by royals and their guests since 1800.

 

A statue of Leif Ericson is located at the seaside, close to the old Customs Building, the cruise ship facilities and the new swimming hall. The statue is a replica, the original being located at a Seattle marina.

 

In popular culture

 

Trondheim culture is parodied on the Monty Python album Another Monty Python Record in the form of the fictitious Trondheim Hammer Dance.

 

Trondheim is also a key location in the Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun universe, as it is a critical battleground for both factions.

 

Trondheim was the name of a planet in the Hundred Worlds of the Ender's Game novel series.

 

Trondheim likely serves as an inspiration for the fictional city Tronjheim in The Inheritance Cycle.

 

(Wikipedia)

 

Trondheim [ˈtrɔnhajm] oder [ˈtrɔnjæm] Audiodatei abspielen (früher Trondhjem geschrieben, deutsch veraltet Drontheim) liegt an der Mündung des Flusses Nidelva in der Provinz (Fylke) Trøndelag in Norwegen und wurde 997 als Nidaros gegründet. Trondheim ist mit 214.565 Einwohnern (Stand 1. Januar 2024) nach Oslo und Bergen die drittgrößte Kommune des Landes. Mit einer Gesamtfläche von 529 Quadratkilometern umfasst sie neben dem Stadtgebiet seit 1964 die umliegenden Siedlungen.

 

Trondheim ist Sitz der Provinzregierung für Trøndelag und des Bistums Nidaros, in dem auch der Präses der Norwegischen Kirche angesiedelt ist. Ein großer Teil der 30.000 in Trondheim lebenden Studenten ist an der Technischen Universität Trondheim NTNU immatrikuliert. Das Universitätskrankenhaus St. Olavs Hospital beschäftigt etwa 10.000 Personen und hat eine Reihe von nationalen Spezialistenfunktionen.

 

Trondheim ist das Zentrum für den Einzelhandel und für die öffentliche Verwaltung von ganz Mittelnorwegen. Viele Betriebe in der Stadt bauen auf Technologie, die in Zusammenarbeit mit den Forschungsgemeinschaften an der Technischen Universität entwickelt worden ist.

 

Mit dem Flugplatz Værnes, mit Bahnverbindungen von Vy in Richtung Oslo, Bodø und Schweden und mit dem Hurtigruten-Kai ist Trondheim ein wichtiger Verkehrsknotenpunkt für den ganzen nördlichen Teil von Norwegen.

 

Die Stadt hat ein reiches Kulturangebot und ist unter anderem Sitz des Trøndelag-Symphonieorchesters, des Trøndelag-Theaters und der regionalen Jazzszene Dokkhuset. Eine Reihe von Museen und Galerien vermittelt bildende Kunst und Geschichte. Der in Trondheim ansässige Fußballklub Rosenborg Ballklub hat sich mehrmals für die UEFA Champions League qualifiziert.

 

Name

 

Der mittelalterliche Name der Stadt Niðaróss ist aus dem Flussnamen Nið und altwestnordisch óss „Mündung“ zusammengesetzt und bedeutet also „Mündung des Nið“. Im Spätmittelalter verbreitete sich der Name Kaupangen i Trondheimen „Handelsplatz in Trondheim“, was in der offiziell gebräuchlichen dänischen Sprache zu Trondhjem verkürzt und danisiert wurde. Daneben war nach den Münzinschriften auch der Name Nidernes in Gebrauch.

 

Seit Erlangung der vollständigen norwegischen Unabhängigkeit im Jahr 1905 bemühten sich nationalistische Kreise überall im Land darum, dänische Namen durch die mittelalterlichen norwegischen Formen zu ersetzen (so geschehen im Fall von Oslo). Auf Betreiben des Kulturvereins Noregs Ungdomslag („Norwegische Jugendgruppe“) verabschiedete das norwegische Parlament schließlich 1929 ein Gesetz, wonach die Stadt zum 1. Januar 1930 in Nidaros zurückbenannt wurde. Diese ohne Einbindung der direkt Betroffenen vollzogene Umbenennung führte in Trondheim zu einem Proteststurm bei Bevölkerung und Stadtregierung. Es kam zudem zu einem Pressekrieg zwischen der neu gegründeten Zeitung Nidaros unter Håkon Løken und dem traditionsreichen Adresseavisen.

 

Das Parlament sah sich gezwungen, seine ursprüngliche Entscheidung zu modifizieren, und stimmte schließlich einem Kompromissvorschlag des Trondheimer Kaufmanns Ivar Lykke zu. Statt des danonorwegischen Namens Trondhjem plädierte Lykke für die neunorwegisierte Form Trondheim (mit dem für das Nynorsk typischen Diphthong -ei-). Die Niederlage von Nidaros führte zu einem Anzeigenboykott, der bis zur deutschen Besatzung 1940 andauerte. Der Name Trondheim gilt offiziell seit dem 6. März 1930, doch ist bis heute auch das ältere Trondhjem in Gebrauch.

 

Geografie

 

Trondheim liegt an der Mündung des Flusses Nidelva auf der Position 63 Grad 25' nördlicher Breite und 10 Grad 24' östlicher Länge. Der Stadtkern liegt auf einer Halbinsel, die im Norden vom Trondheimsfjord und im Osten und Süden von der Nidelva begrenzt ist. Der Innenstadtbereich liegt auf einer nach Norden offenen Ebene, die im Osten und Westen von Hügelland mit Gipfeln von 250 bis 550 Metern Höhe abgegrenzt wird. Im Süden steigt die Ebene zum höher gelegenen Heimdalsplateau an.

 

Der Stadtkommune Trondheim wurden im Jahre 1964 die Landgemeinden Strinda, Byneset, Tiller und Leinstrand, die im Laufe der Jahre zu einem Teil des Stadtgebietes wurden, angegliedert. 2020 kam die Gemeinde Klæbu hinzu. Die Fläche der heutigen Kommune Trondheim umfasst 342,4 Quadratkilometer. In den Randbezirken der Kommune liegen große Flächen, die landwirtschaftlich genutzt werden, insgesamt etwa 17 % des Gesamtareals. Ungefähr 33 % des Gesamtareals der Kommune sind Waldbestände.

 

Die Einwohnerzahl beträgt 214.565 (Stand 1. Januar 2024) und lag am 1. Januar 2001 bei 150.166 (noch ohne das zu 2020 eingegliederte Klæbu). Die Bevölkerungsentwicklung erklärt sich aus der guten Arbeitsmarktlage in der Stadt und dem Wunsch der Bevölkerung nach einem vielseitigen Dienstleistungs- und Kulturangebot. Zu der gemeldeten Einwohnerzahl kommen noch etwa 15.000 Studenten, die in anderen Kommunen gemeldet sind. Insgesamt studieren etwa 30.000 Studenten in Trondheim, sodass etwa jeder sechste Einwohner der Stadt Student ist.

 

Klima

 

Das Klima in Trondheim ist im Verhältnis zum übrigen Mittelnorwegen mild und feucht. Die Stadt liegt unter dem Einfluss der Polarklimazone im Norden und der gemäßigten Klimazone im Süden. Von Westen her liegt die Stadt unter Einfluss des Westwindgürtels der nördlichen Hemisphäre. Auf diese Weise ist das Wetter in Trondheim wenig stabil.

 

Die Jahresmitteltemperatur liegt bei 5,3 Grad, im Januar bei −3,1 und im Juni bis August bei 13,7 Grad. Der Tiefstwert der Temperatur wurde 1899 mit −26,1 und der Höchstwert 1901 mit 35,0 Grad gemessen. Der durchschnittliche Jahresniederschlag beträgt 892 mm (1961–1990) und die Stadt hat im Durchschnitt 200 Tage mit Niederschlägen. Etwa 70 bis 100 Tage liegt in Trondheim Schnee.

 

Geschichte

 

Mittelalter

 

Etwa ab dem Jahr 950 gibt es Spuren eines Handelsplatzes auf der Halbinsel zwischen dem Fjord und der Mündung des Flusses Nidelva. Im Jahre 997 wurde Trondheim dort von König Olav I. Tryggvason als Stadt gegründet. Durch die günstige, leicht zu verteidigende Lage und den natürlichen Hafen an der Flussmündung konnte sich die Stadt zu einem blühenden Handelszentrum für die Region Trøndelag entwickeln. Trondheim war im Mittelalter Sitz des Königs und damit Hauptstadt Norwegens.

 

Trondheim war im Mittelalter auch das religiöse Zentrum des Landes und ein wichtiger Wallfahrtsort für Nordeuropa. Die Grundlage für die Wallfahrten war die Olavs-Tradition. Olav II. Haraldsson hatte versucht, das Land unter sich als christlichem König zu einigen, war aber im Jahre 1030 bei der Schlacht bei Stiklestad (im heutigen Verdal) geschlagen und tödlich verletzt worden. Schon im darauffolgenden Jahr wurde er heiliggesprochen und Wallfahrten zu seinem Schrein begannen. Seine Anhänger hatten seine sterblichen Überreste in das etwa 70 km südwestlich gelegene Trondheim überführt. Sie wurden zuerst in der von Olav Trygvasson gebauten Klemenskirche aufbewahrt und kurz darauf in die Christuskirche, den späteren Nidarosdom, überführt. 2016 fand ein Archäologenteam des Norsk institutt for kulturminneforskning (NIKU) die Reste der Klemenskirche, in der Olav heiliggesprochen wurde. Adam von Bremen schrieb, der Pilgerweg zum Nidarosdom habe im Oslofjord begonnen. Man sei von dort entweder mit dem Schiff nach Trondheim gefahren oder habe den beschwerlicheren Landweg genommen.

 

Im Jahre 1050 wurde Trondheim Bischofssitz unter dem Erzbistum Bremen. Die Kirche hatte nun bedeutende Einnahmen durch den Kirchenzehnten und eigenen Landbesitz. Zum Umsatz dieser Waren baute man die Handelsverbindungen von Trondheim nach Nordeuropa aus. Dies führte zu einem ständigen Wachstum der Stadt.

 

Im Jahre 1152 sandte Papst Anastasius IV. den Kardinalbischof Nikolaus Breakspear als Bevollmächtigten nach Norwegen. Dort errichtete dieser in Nidaros eine norwegische Kirchenprovinz mit einem Erzbischof. Norwegen war in vier Bistümer aufgeteilt; hinzu kamen die Bistümer auf den Färöern und auf Grönland.

 

Øystein war der zweite Erzbischof der norwegischen Kirchenprovinz. Er hatte eine Zeit lang im Exil in England gelebt und war dort mit der englischen Kirchenarchitektur bekannt geworden. Zurück in Trondheim begann er den Bau einer gotischen Kathedrale, die im Laufe des 13. Jahrhunderts weitgehend fertiggestellt war. Er errichtete auch einen befestigten Hof als Bischofsresidenz direkt bei der Kirche (norwegisch Erkebispegården). Eine Pest-Epidemie im Jahre 1349 führte dazu, dass ein Großteil der Bevölkerung starb. Damit stagnierte auch die Wirtschaft in der Stadt und im Umland.

 

Im Spätmittelalter änderte sich die Machtverteilung zwischen Kirche und Königsmacht. Mit der Reformation übernahm die Krone die Herrschaft über den Grundbesitz und damit die Einnahmen der Kirche. Norwegen und damit auch Trondheim verloren ihre Selbstständigkeit und wurden ein Teil des dänisch-norwegischen Reiches. Trondheim wurde Sitz des Statthalters der dänischen Krone. Seine Residenz war im früheren Hof des Erzbischofs.

 

17. und 18. Jahrhundert

 

Die Stadt Trondheim erlebte im 17. und 18. Jahrhundert eine wirtschaftliche und kulturelle Blütezeit. Grundlage des Wachstums war der Holz- und Fischhandel mit den nordeuropäischen Ländern. Auch der Export von Kupfer, das im Bergwerk und in der Hütte der Bergstadt Røros gewonnen wurde, trug zum wirtschaftlichen Wachstum bei.

 

Eine kleine Gruppe von Kaufmannsfamilien stand an der Spitze dieses Handels. Viele von ihnen waren im 17. Jahrhundert aus Südschleswig (besonders Flensburg) nach Trondheim ausgewandert, denn das Herzogtum Schleswig war auch ein Teil des dänisch-norwegischen Reiches. Der Reichtum dieser Epoche ist noch heute an den prächtigen Bauten dieser Zeit sichtbar. Ein Beispiel ist der sog. Stiftshof (norw. Stiftsgården), das größte aus Holz gebaute Palais Skandinaviens.

 

Weiterhin wurde die Stadt oft von verheerenden Bränden heimgesucht. Bei einem Brand im Jahre 1681 brannte die Innenstadt bis auf die zwei größten Kirchen ab. Dies führte dazu, dass der König einen Generalplan für die Stadt festlegte. Er wurde nach kontinentalem Vorbild von General Caspar Cicignon entwickelt. Der Plan legte zwei breite Hauptachsen fest, die sich auf dem Markt kreuzten. Der Rest der Straßen wurde in einem Schachbrettmuster angelegt. Cicignons Stadtplan hat sich nie vollständig durchsetzen können, sodass es auch heute noch kleine Stadtviertel mit verwinkelten Gassen (norw. veiten) gibt, die dem Straßenverlauf des Mittelalters folgen.

 

Neben der Sicherung vor Bränden war auch die Verteidigung der Stadt ein wichtiger Gesichtspunkt für die Stadtplanung. Im 17. Jahrhundert stand Dänemark-Norwegen im Konflikt mit Schweden. So entstand nach dem Stadtbrand von 1681 auf einer Anhöhe außerhalb des Stadtzentrums die Festung Kristiansten, um die Stadt vor Angriffen aus dem Osten verteidigen zu können. Als Verbindung von den Kasernen in der Innenstadt zur Festung wurde eine neue Stadtbrücke über den Fluss Nidelva angelegt.

 

Moderne

 

Im 19. Jahrhundert begann auch in Trondheim eine industrielle Entwicklung. Das erste Industriegebiet lag auf der Ostseite des Flusses Nidelva. Wichtige Betriebe waren Ziegeleien, mechanische Betriebe und Werften. In der nahen Umgebung entstanden Wohngebiete für Arbeiter. Einer dieser Stadtteile, Bakklandet, war lange Jahre dem Verfall ausgesetzt, wurde aber in den 1960er Jahren unter Schutz gestellt. Nach langjährigen Restaurierungsarbeiten kann man heute das Stadtbild des 19. Jahrhunderts hier wieder erleben. Eine wirtschaftliche Blüte erlebte auch der Stadtteil Fossegrenda.

 

Die Werft Trondhjems Mekaniske Værksted TMV war lange Jahre der größte Arbeitsplatz der Stadt, mit bis zu 700 Mitarbeitern. Sie wurde 1872 am Ostufer der Nidelva gegründet, aber schon wenige Jahre später aus Platzmangel an die Mündung des Flusses umgesiedelt. Der Betrieb musste 1982 auf Grund mangelnder Wirtschaftlichkeit geschlossen werden. Das Betriebsgelände wurde ab Anfang des 21. Jahrhunderts zum Stadtteil Nedre Elvehavn umfunktioniert, mit Restaurants, Einkaufszentrum und Wohnungen.

 

Ende des 19. Jahrhunderts wuchs die Stadt weiter. Grund war der wirtschaftliche Aufschwung nach Anschluss an das norwegische (1877) und das schwedische Eisenbahnnetz (1881).

 

Während des Zweiten Weltkriegs war Trondheim durch das Unternehmen Weserübung von April 1940 bis zum Ende im Mai 1945 von deutschen Truppen besetzt. Bereits vor dem Krieg wurde von deutschen Strategen die militärische Bedeutung der Städte an der norwegischen Küste diskutiert, und bald nach Kriegsbeginn gab es Pläne für eine Marinebasis „Neu Drontheim“. Von dieser Zeit zeugen noch zum Beispiel Fundamente von Fliegerabwehrkanonen sowie die beiden U-Boot-Bunker Dora 1 und Dora 2. Die Festung Kristiansten wurde als Hinrichtungsstätte für Widerstandskämpfer genutzt.

 

Im Zuge der Kommunalreform in Norwegen wurde Klæbu zum 1. Januar 2020 mit Trondheim zusammengelegt.

 

Kulturhistorische Gebiete und Sehenswürdigkeiten

 

Kanalhafen

 

Der Kanalhafen (norw. Kanalhavna) grenzt die Innenstadthalbinsel in Richtung Norden ab. Er wurde Mitte des 19. Jahrhunderts im Rahmen eines neuen Hafenplans für die Stadt geschaffen. An der Südseite des Kanalhafens findet man eine Reihe der für Trondheim typischen Lagerhäuser, die direkt am Wasser liegen. Auf der nördlichen Seite des Kanalhafens befindet sich der Hauptbahnhof, der die Meråkerbahn (Schweden) und die Nordlandsbahn (Bodø) mit der Rørosbahn und der Dovrebahn (Oslo) verbindet.

 

Bis Mitte des 20. Jahrhunderts war der westliche Teil des Kanalhafens Anlaufstelle für Fähren zur Halbinsel Fosen und damit ein wichtiger Verkehrsknotenpunkt. Weiter westlich im Kanalhafen befindet sich der alte Fischmarkt Ravnkloa, der auch Anlegestelle für die Personenfähre zur Insel Munkholmen ist (Saisonbetrieb). Die Klappbrücke Skansenbrua, die Anfang des 20. Jahrhunderts von dem amerikanischen Architekten Joseph B. Strauss konstruiert wurde, ermöglicht die Einfahrt von Schiffen in die westliche Einfahrt des Kanalhafens.

 

Gassen

 

Nach dem großen Stadtbrand von 1681 wurde die Innenstadt grundlegend umstrukturiert. Breite Avenuen und Straßen ersetzten die schmalen Gassen, die teilweise auf das Straßenmuster im Mittelalter zurückgingen. Auf diese Weise sollten neue Brände verhindert werden. Doch in einigen Vierteln hielten die alten Gassen stand. Noch heute findet man solche Viertel südlich des Kanalhafens.

 

Der norwegische Name Veite spielt auf die alte Funktion der Gassen als Kloake an, in einer Zeit, in der es noch keine Kanalisation gab. Ein Grund für den Bestand der Veiten waren die brandsicheren Keller, mit denen viele Häuser ausgestattet waren. Hier lagerte man sein Hab und Gut im Falle eines Brandes. Nach einem Brand wurde ein Haus deshalb gern wieder auf seinem alten Fundament aufgebaut.

 

Stiftsgården

 

Stiftsgården (Hof des Stiftsamtsmanns) ist das größte Holzpalais Skandinaviens und wurde in den 1770er Jahren im Auftrag der Geheimrätin Cecilie Christine Schøller errichtet. Sie war Generalstochter und hatte in eine reiche Kaufmannsfamilie geheiratet. Der Stiftsgården wurde nicht als Wohnung, sondern als Treffpunkt für die führende Schicht der Stadt gebaut, unter ihnen die Kaufmannsfamilien, die zu dieser Zeit das Wirtschaftsleben in der Region beherrschten. Als Architekt, zumindest aber stilistischer Anreger, wird der außerordentlich vielseitige Johan Daniel Berlin erwähnt.

 

Der Bau im klassizistischen Stil wurde nach dänischen Vorbildern entworfen. Das Haupthaus hat eine Breite von 58 Metern und wird von zwei Flügeln flankiert. Die Deckenhöhe im Haupthaus beträgt 4,3 Meter. Zwischen den zwei Hauptetagen ist eine Zwischendecke eingezogen, um den Schall zu dämmen. Die Gesamtgrundfläche des Gebäudes beträgt 4000 Quadratmeter, verteilt auf 140 Räume. Das Innere des Hauptgebäudes ist im Barockstil gehalten und durchgehende Flügeltüren verleihen ihm das Gepräge eines Schlosses. 1906 wurde der Stiftsgården zur offiziellen Residenz des Königs in Trondheim.

 

Marktplatz

 

Der Marktplatz (norw. Torget) war das Zentrum der neuen Innenstadt, die im 17. Jahrhundert auf Grundlage des Stadtplans von General Caspar Cicignon geschaffen wurde. Hier treffen sich die beiden Hauptachsen des Stadtplans: In Ost-West-Richtung führt die Kongens gate an der mittelalterlichen Marienkirche Vår Frue kirke vorbei. Die kreuzende Munkegata ist in Richtung Süden auf den Nidarosdom und in Richtung Norden auf die sich im Fjord befindende Insel Munkholmen ausgerichtet. Die breiten Straßen sollten die Innenstadt in Viertel teilen und damit einen neuen verheerenden Brand wie im Jahre 1681 verhindern. Eine Bepflanzung mit Bäumen entlang der Straßen sollte einen Überschlag von Funken verhindern.

 

Im Jahre 1920 wurde in der Mitte des Markts eine 17 Meter hohe Säule mit einer überlebensgroßen Statue des Stadtgründers und Wikingerkönigs Olav I Trygvason aufgestellt. Sie bildet zusammen mit der Pflasterung des Platzes eine riesige Sonnenuhr. Die Pflasterung hat zusätzlich die Form einer Kompassrose und erinnert damit an die Navigationskunst der Wikinger.

 

Nidarosdom und Bischofsresidenz

 

Das Gebiet um den Nidarosdom war seit der Zeit der Stadtgründung das Gebiet des Königs. Lange Zeit lag es außerhalb des mittelalterlichen Stadtkerns auf einer kleinen Anhöhe, die sich entlang des Flusses Nidelva im Norden der Zentrumshalbinsel erstreckte. Im Zuge der Christianisierung wurde in der Nähe des alten Königshofes eine kleine Holzkirche errichtet, die Christuskirche. Sie wurde im 11. Jahrhundert durch eine Steinkirche ersetzt, als der Kultus um den Schrein des Heiligen Olav (Olav II. Haraldson) ständig mehr Pilger anzog. Die Kirche bildete den Ausgangspunkt der erst romanischen und später gotischen Kathedrale, die heute Nidarosdom genannt wird. Sie erreichte ihre größte Ausdehnung im 13. Jahrhundert, als Trondheim Bischofssitz geworden war.

 

Zu dieser Zeit wurde auch die Bischofsresidenz (norw. Erkebispegården) stark erweitert. Der Gebäudekomplex zählt zu den besterhaltenen seiner Art in Europa und ist zudem das älteste weltliche Gebäude in ganz Skandinavien. Sie wurde im Laufe des Spätmittelalters zu einer geschlossenen Burg ausgebaut. Hier lag das Verwaltungszentrum des Bistums und die Einnahmen des Bischofs aus dem Zehnten und den Abgaben der Verpächter wurden hier entgegengenommen, registriert und umgesetzt. Der Westflügel, der dem Nidarosdom am nächsten steht, entstand im 15. Jahrhundert. Das sogenannte Waagenhaus, mit dem Tor zum Innenhof, enthält Kellergewölbe, welche jetzt die Kronjuwelen des norwegischen Königshauses beherbergen. Im ersten Stock befindet sich die große Festhalle.

 

Gamle Bybroen und Bakklandet

 

Die „alte Stadtbrücke“ (norw. Gamle bybroen) aus dem Jahre 1862 verbindet die Zentrumshalbinsel mit dem Stadtteil Bakklandet, der für seine kleinen Holzhäuser bekannt ist, die heute Cafés, Werkstätten und Boutiquen beherbergen. Der Stadtteil entstand im 17. Jahrhundert mit dem Bau der ersten neuen Stadtbrücke, die das Zentrum mit der Festung Kristiansten verband. Sie war Teil des von Caspar Cicignon geschaffenen Stadtplanes.

 

Am Ostufer des Flusses entstand das Industrieviertel der Stadt. Südlich der Stadtbrücke befand sich seit dem 13. Jahrhundert eine Ziegelei, die bis ins 20. Jahrhundert in Betrieb war. Das Hauptgebäude ist heute in ein Wohngebäude umgewandelt. Weiter in Richtung Flussmündung wurden Werften für den Neubau und die Reparatur von Schiffen gebaut. Hiervon zeugt heute noch der alte Kranplatz (norw. Krana) direkt unterhalb der alten Stadtbrücke. Die Werften wurden auf Grund von Platzmangel später weiter unten am Fluss angesiedelt.

 

Auch ein Teil des Hafens wurde an der Ostseite des Flusses angesiedelt. Um neue Stadtbrände zu verhindern, lagerte man hier seit dem 18. Jahrhundert brennbare Güter. Schiffe, die Feuer an Bord hatten, mussten hier ihre Waren löschen. Auf diese Weise entstand auch auf dieser Seite des Flusshafens (norw. Elvehavna) eine Reihe von Lagerhäusern.

 

Durch die Industriegründungen entstand an der Ostseite des Flusses das Arbeiterviertel Bakklandet mit Häusern, die ineinander verschachtelt waren und dicht aneinander lagen. Mitte des 20. Jahrhunderts gab es Pläne, den Stadtteil zu sanieren. Diese wurden jedoch auf Grund der Proteste der Bakkländer nicht verwirklicht. Viele Häuser sind im Laufe der letzten Jahrzehnte restauriert und in Geschäfte, Cafés und exklusive Wohnungen umgewandelt worden. Dadurch ist der Stadtteil zu einem Magnet für Einheimische und Touristen geworden.

 

Insel Munkholmen

 

Im Fjord liegt vor der Hafeneinfahrt der Stadt die kleine Insel Munkholmen. Zur Zeit der Christianisierung Norwegens wurde darauf ein Kloster erbaut, das später auch als Munitionslager und Gefängnis benutzt und entsprechend adaptiert wurde. Während der deutschen Besatzung im Zweiten Weltkrieg wurden auf der Insel Fliegerabwehrkanonen errichtet, deren Reste und Fundamente heute noch zu sehen sind. Im Sommer fährt halbstündlich ein Ausflugsboot von der Ravnkloa am Ende der Munkegata im Hafen Trondheims zur Insel, die die Norweger gerne zum Sonnenbaden und Schwimmen nutzen.

 

Ringve-Museum

 

Das Ringve-Museum ist Norwegens Nationalmuseum für Musik und Musikinstrumente. Es liegt im Stadtteil Lade vor den Toren der Stadt, in einem Botanischen Garten, der von der Technisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Universität betrieben wird.

 

Andere

 

Weitere Sehenswürdigkeiten sind das Justizmuseum (norw. Justismuseet), der Fernsehturm Tyholttårnet mit einer Aussichtsplattform und einem sich drehenden Restaurant und die Festung Kristiansten auf einer Anhöhe unweit der Altstadt. Die Synagoge von Trondheim zählt zu den nördlichsten der Welt. Im Stadtteil Ranheim kann man den Bautastein von Ranheim finden.

 

Sonstiges

 

Der Trondhjems Adresseavis hoffte zum Verfassungstag 1905, drei Monate vor der Unabhängigkeit, auf „nationale Erhebung und religiöse Erweckung“.

Die 1767 gegründete Lokalzeitung Adresseavisen ist die älteste Tageszeitung Norwegens, die 1768 gegründete Gunnerus-Bibliothek Norwegens älteste wissenschaftliche Bibliothek.

 

Die Technisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Universität Norwegens (norw. Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet, NTNU) ist mit zirka 20.000 Studenten die wichtigste Universität des Landes und verleiht Trondheim durch den durch sie verursachten niedrigen Altersdurchschnitt der Bevölkerung ein besonderes Flair. Diese Universität, mehrere Hochschulen und Forschungsinstitute wie SINTEF machen Trondheim zu einem der bedeutendsten Forschungs- und Studienorte Skandinaviens. Insgesamt gibt es in Trondheim etwa 30.000 Studenten.

 

Die höchste Erhebung auf dem Gebiet der Kommune Trondheim ist der Berg Storheia mit 565 Metern ü. NN.

 

Das Trinkwasser der Stadt kommt größtenteils aus dem nahen Stausee Jonsvatnet.

 

Nach Trondheim wurde der dem Granit verwandte Naturwerkstein Trondhjemit benannt.

 

Sport

 

Trondheim ist die Heimat des sowohl national als auch international erfolgreichen Fußballvereins Rosenborg. Einmal im Jahr macht hier der Skisprung-Weltcup Station. Die Sprungschanzen sind Teil des Granåsen skisenter, das sich südwestlich der Stadt befindet. 1997 wurde in Trondheim die Nordische Skiweltmeisterschaft ausgetragen.

 

Jährlich im Juni beginnt hier das Fahrradrennen Styrkeprøven, auch bekannt als „Trondheim–Oslo“.

 

Im März 2009 wurde ein Biathlon-Weltcup in Trondheim ausgetragen.

 

Verkehr

 

Das Rückgrat des ÖPNV in Trondheim wird vom Busnetz gebildet, betrieben vom regionalen Verkehrsunternehmen AtB (seit 2009). Im Jahr 2019 wurde sowohl der Fahrzeugpark und das Netz selbst modernisiert, u. a. durch Einführung sogenannter Metrobuslinien mit Doppelgelenkbussen des Typs ExquiCity vom Hersteller Van Hool. Als einzige Straßenbahnlinie existiert die privat betriebene Straßenbahn Gråkallbanen. Trondheim ist Anlegestelle der Schiffe der Hurtigruten und einer Katamaranfähre für den Personentransport, die mehrmals täglich eine schnelle Verbindung nach Kristiansund bietet. Der Flughafen Trondheim-Værnes zählte im Jahr 2018 ca. 4.200.000 Fluggäste. Trondheim ist Endstation der Dovrebahn, die Trondheim mit Oslo verbindet, und der Bahnstrecke Trondheim–Storlien (Meråkerbahn). Züge werden hier von Vy betrieben.

 

Durch den Fluss Nidelva, den Hafen (UN/LOCODE NO TRD) und verschiedene Kanäle hat Trondheim auch eine größere Anzahl von Brücken unterschiedlicher Konstruktion.

 

Trondheim hat einen Fahrradlift, der Radfahrer die anfänglich starke Steigung zur Festung hinauf schiebt. Der innerstädtische Verkehr wird zudem unterstützt durch eine Reihe Stationen für Stadtfahrräder (Bysykkel), ähnlich denen in Helsinki.

 

Für Individualverkehr wird in Trondheim von 6 bis 18 Uhr montag bis freitags eine Citymaut erhoben.

 

(Wikipedia)

San Juan Mountains

ICR

南投婚攝

南島婚宴會館

 

峻凱+秀娟

 

迎娶+午宴 婚禮紀實

 

欣欣向榮‧Thriving

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A Trip to Denver, 27-28 December 1982

 

I started working at McClellan AFB in Sacramento as a civilian in January 1982. I working on electronic equipment and the pay was a big jump from what I'd been making as a security guard before I went to Saudi Arabia in August 1981.

 

My Air National Guard training paid off!

 

I took a short vacation with some friends in October and then the Air Force decided to close the base for the week between Christmas and New Year.

 

I'd not ridden the Rio Grande Zephyr since I'd come home from USAF tech school in March 1978, and I thought a trip to Denver would be a good way to spend the week off.

 

So, I bought round trip Sacramento-Ogden tickets on Amtrak and Ogden (via connecting van)-Salt Lake City-Denver tickets on the RGZ. On previous trips to Denver in 1975 and 1978, I'd stayed at the Oxford Hotel, which in 1975 was an $8 per night flea bag one block up 17th Street from Union Station. The area around Union Station was still the skid row where Neal Cassady, muse of Jack Kerouac, Ken Kesey and the Beats and hippies in general, had grown up.

 

27 December was a cloudy day in Sacramento. I must have gotten to the station in plenty of time for #6, as a westbound freight behind GP9s, an eastbound behind more modern power and the SN Port Job came through before the Zephyr, which might have been tardy. Over on Track 7, the Spirit of California, the short lived overnight Sacramento-LA train awaited departure.

 

I seem to have not taken any photos of our crossing of Donner Pass or at Sparks. Not sure why.

 

We were late into Ogden and the Rio Grande connecting van had left without us. Oh, well...

 

While the switch crews added the cars from the Pioneer (from Seattle and Portland) and Desert Wind (from LA and Las Vegas), I bought an Amtrak ticket for the Ogden-Denver leg of the trip.

 

We'd had an SP SD45T-2 helper over Donner and UP added GP40X 9003 to help us make up time between Ogden and Denver. The GP40Xes had high speed gearing and could maintain track speed across Wyoming.

 

Again, I didn''t take a lot of photos. I shot the train at Rawlins and Laramie and out the vestibule near Dale on Sherman Hill, but compared to what I would have been taking from the RGZ, the pickings are very slim. It was probably too damn cold to be sticking my head out of a vestibule window at 90 mph!

 

While there had been snow across Wyoming, when we got to Denver, the city was pretty well buried. After getting some photos of the SF Zephyr and the Rio Grande Zephyr, which arrived while 6 was in the station (6 must have been several hours late), I went out the front door of Union Station to find a city still digging out from the blizzard and the Oxford Hotel closed for renovation. (Today it is a very nice historic hotel in thriving downtown Denver. Anne and I stayed there in 1991 and it was nothing like the flophouse of the 1970s.)

 

So, no hotel, no real way to get around town, but good news...as soon as #6 departs, #5, the westbound Zephyr that was due in that morning would pull in. The weather had been bad all over the Plains states and rather than risk Amtrak getting stuck in a snowbank somewhere in western Nebraska, the BN had held the train somewhere until they could be sure the line was clear, so it was now 12 hours or so late.

 

With nothing to do in Denver and no way to get around, I exchanged my Ogden-Sacramento ticket for a Denver-Sacramento one and boarded the 12 hour tardy #5 when it pulled it. I promptly fell asleep, with visions of SP 21, the Overland Route mail train, in my head.

Caption: The sloth bear cub sleeping in a specially designed play area.

 

Photo: Smithsonian's National Zoo

 

The decision for keepers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo to hand-raise a female sloth bear cub instead of leaving her with her mother Khali likely saved her life. She is now very active and growing as the result of the round-the-clock care she has received for the past two-and-a-half months.

The cub was one of three cubs born to Khali Dec. 29, 2013, and she is the only cub that survived longer than seven days. Khali ingested the first cub about 20 minutes after she gave birth Dec. 29. It is not uncommon for carnivores, including sloth bears, to ingest stillborn cubs, or even live cubs if they or the mother are compromised in some way. Khali, an experienced mom, appeared attentive to her two remaining cubs, and keepers monitored her closely via closed-circuit cams before, during and after the births. However, she ingested a second cub seven days later and spent several hours away from her remaining cub in the early morning hours of Jan. 6, which is not normal for a sloth bear with a newborn cub.

“Our team is always prepared to intervene and hand-rear a cub if it appears that a cub is not thriving,” said Tony Barthel, curator of Asia Trail. “We already had developed a plan for hand-rearing before Khali gave birth, and our ability to act quickly was critical.”

At that point, keepers decided the only way the remaining cub would likely survive was to retrieve her from Khali’s den. Keepers rushed the cub to the veterinary hospital around 7:30 a.m. Veterinarians examined her and determined that she was hypothermic and weak. Khali had not been cradling her, which would have regulated the cub’s temperature and kept her warm. Veterinarians treated her with antibiotics, vitamins and fluid therapy. They also placed her in an incubator to help stabilize her body temperature. By 9 a.m. she was nursing from a bottle. For the next several days she was bottle-fed eight times each day. The cub was healthy enough to leave the veterinary hospital Jan. 9 and was returned to the sloth bear habitat, but keepers could not return her to her mother.

Keepers searched for other sloth bear cubs, or different bear species cubs, currently being hand-raised at other Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited institutions, but were unable to find any. Instead, a team of National Zoo keepers, veterinarians and nutritionists immediately stepped up as surrogates for the cub.

“Carrying the cub around for hours at a time gave us a unique opportunity to bond with her,” said Stacey Tabellario, animal keeper. “We quickly became in-tune with her vocalizations, movements and sleep patterns. With past cubs at this stage, we mostly only viewed them via closed-circuit television, so this has been a great chance to learn more about cub development.”

Keepers stay with the cub 24 hours a day and bottle feed her at regular intervals. After the cub first returned to the sloth bear habitat, keepers bottle-fed her seven times each day, but that was gradually reduced to six and now five times each day.

When the cub’s eyes opened Jan. 26, keepers started to increase their level of interaction with her to provide her with the social stimulation she needed. Sloth bear cubs stay with their mothers for about three years. As newborns they are cradled by their mothers, and as they grow they ride on their mothers’ backs. To simulate those types of interactions, the keepers initially carried the cub in a baby sling with them during their daily routines. Now that she is a little bigger, keepers play with the cub in her den or in a specially designated play area to encourage natural behaviors like climbing.

“It is always preferable for cubs to be raised by their mothers, but that was not possible this time,” said keeper and sloth bear expert Mindy Babitz. “We had to become this cub’s ‘mothers.’ We are caring for her needs around the clock—not just physical, but social, cognitive and emotional needs; it’s very encouraging to watch her develop and grow.”

The sloth bear team would like her to interact with other sloth bears. In the coming weeks keepers will allow the cub to explore the indoor dens of the Zoo’s adult sloth bears while they are outside. They plan to visually introduce her to the adults over the next few months. If the gradual introductions go well, the cub may eventually be reintroduced to Khali, or introduced to her father François for companionship. The cub will likely not be on exhibit until summer.

Khali has successfully raised two cubs, born in 2004, before. She gave birth to another cub in 2002, but the cub only survived for about one month. François, the Zoo’s adult male sloth bear, sired the cubs born Dec. 29, 2013. Khali is only the second sloth bear to give birth to a litter of three cubs in North America.

 

The combination of increasingly complex high-risk financial instruments (unknown, under-acknowledged, under-estimated and/or misunderstood by public and private policy sector workers at all levels of governance) and a thriving culture of testosterone-driven traders with their hands firmly on the throttle of oil-dependent muscle vehicles, flooring-it on shared virtual highways with silently condoned (albeit) unwritten permission and even enthusiastic encouragement to exceed safe speed limits, the exponential growth in wealth of the upper quintile of the upper quintile accompanied by the exponential increase in poverty of the lower quintile of the lower quintile, the global expansion and implementation of the belief-system based on unfettered, self-regulated market political economies (loosely called market liberalism although best-served by political conservatism) promulgated around the planet through mass media content packaged to sell imagery of the invisible hand of the market as the right hand of the new secular god surrounded by soldiers of the user-pay, private-is-better, blame-the-poor, monetize-everything, blame-the-ill, social-justice-vs-economic-efficiency, base-minumum-wage-on-pin-money-workers, minimum-government, trickle-down-affect, legal-but-not-ethical, group-think-culture led by the Triad of Mises-Friedman-Hayek has led to market chaos that is not theoretical but Really Real.

 

According to Dan Mitchell's article Trading on Testosterone" in the New York Times, "Movements in financial markets are correlated to the levels of hormones in the bodies of male traders, according to a study by two researchers from the University of Cambridge."

 

The Adobe Photoshop image was created by adding the Suit to the bull and layering my own mortgage meltdown digitage with the article's illustration by Alex Eben Meyer in the New York Times. I saved this as a transparent .png file. (I am unsure of the licensing for the NYT image.) [1]

 

This is twisted curve in the winding road of ancient arguments that prohibited participation of hormone-driven women (emotional versus logical, intuitive versus deductive, feelings versus reason) in pivotal positions of decision-making.

 

read more | digg story

 

Does this mean the invisible hand of the market should be wearing a glove? Should the use of Viagra be monitored on the trading floor?

 

Notes

 

1. In response to the interesting question from Ray Randall re: Creative Commons Licensing of this images which he used here :

www.ethosadvisory.com/articles/index.php?id=418 and herehttp://www.ethosadvisory.com/blog. Ray is using CC for the first time and was confused and concerned about following Web 2.0 etiquette. It can be confusing.

 

This image is my digital collage or mashup as described above which is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.5 Canada License. Most of my Flickr images are under the Creative Commons License lets authors, scientists, artists, and educators easily mark their creative work with the freedoms they want it to carry while legally remixing and reusing fragments of the work of others.

 

When you add a Flickr image to your blog through Flickr's menu options, it automatically generates this code (I've replaced with [ and ])

[div style="float:right;margin-left:10px;margin-bottom:10px;"][a title="photo sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oceanflynn/2426434212/"><img style="border:solid 2px #000000;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2231/2426434212_83d95ed5f5_m.jpg" alt="" /][/a]

 

[span style="font-size:.9em;margin-top:0;"]

[a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oceanflynn/2426434212/"]Bull Wrestling Bear Markets: Testosterone-driven[/a]

 

Originally uploaded by [a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/oceanflynn/"]ocean.flynn[/a]

[/span][/div]

 

By using Flickr's code the image is linked to image, artist and textual info.

 

I notice a lot of people bypass this and simply thank oceanflynn or Maureen Flynn-Burhoe which is fine for me because Google makes the link. It wouldn't if your name was not as easily identified by Google. And this method is not really Flickr-friendly.

  

However, Flickr has its own set of rules which requires that the live link to the Flickr-hosted image. This also accesses the accompanying explanatory text which describes how I added my own original mashups as well as remixing and reusing some of the work of other artists.

If you follow my links to the NYT's article you can see where the bull and bear originate. I put the bull in a Wall Street suit and tie and added my own original Adobe Photoshop image which was quite timely and involved. When you crop to include only the bear and bull, it is possible that it borrows too heavily from the original NYT's article illustration.

   

Webliography and Bibliography

Coates, J. M. and J. Herbert. 2008. "Endogenous steroids and financial risk taking on a London trading floor." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. snurl.com/250a7

 

Emarketer. 2008-03-18. "Online Advertisers To Spend Through Turbulence." snurl.com/250e6

 

Flynn-Burhoe, Maureen. 2008-04-19. "Complex Financial Instruments and Testosterone-Driven Trading: Algorithm of Market Chaos." snurl.com/250a6

 

Mitchell, Dan. 2008-04-19. "Trading on Testosterone." New York Times. 5tvolz permalink

 

Palmer, Jason. 2008-04-14. "Traders' raging hormones cause stock market swings." NewScientist.com. snurl.com/2508n

 

Rubel, Steve. 2008-04-17. "Study: A Billion Dollars in Internet Advertising is Wasted." Micro Persuasion. snurl.com/250au

 

Rubel, Steve. 2008-04-19. Twitter.

 

Notes:

 

1. Algorithm: a "problem-solving procedure: a logical step-by-step procedure for solving a mathematical problem in a finite number of steps, often involving repetition of the same basic operation" or a "problem-solving computer program: a logical sequence of steps for solving a problem, often written out as a flow chart, that can be translated into a computer program," a term used in the late 17th century. It is an alteration, "after Greek arithmos "number," of algorism, via Old French and medieval Latin based on the Arabic al-Ḵwārizmī , the name of the 9th century mathematician who introduced algorithms to the West." See MSC (1998-2005) Encarta.

 

My write up on photographing the new Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas here

 

On the weekend of November 20-21, 2010, I was invited to photograph the new Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas prior to their opening December 15, 2010 in Las Vegas NV.

 

This set of images represents my efforts that weekend to showcase this newest resort property opening up on the Las Vegas Strip. Thanks to David Scherer from The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas for showing me around, to Miiko Mentz at Katalyst Films for helping to arrange the shoot, and to my wife for modeling for me.

 

To learn more about The Cosmpolitan of Las Vegas, check out their website here or their Facebook page here.

Thriving near Florida Keys shorelines

N725VM Cessna Citation Longitude at Washington Dulles in the very distinctive colours of Thrive Aviation.

THRIVE 450 in Chattanooga, TN is part of the revolutionary new THRIVE fitness line.

Quote image by Quote Catalog.

 

Credit www.quotecatalog.com with an active link required.

 

Image is free for usage on editorial websites (even websites with ads) if you credit www.quotecatalog.com with an active link.

  

p.s. you can also find me at - [photo-soulz.blogspot.com/]

Interview with THRIVE participants

042

FORTUNE Brainstorm Health 2022

Los Angeles, CA

Wednesday, May 11th, 2022

 

4:35 PM

SELF-CARE STARTS WITH LEGENDARY SLEEP

The value and power of sleep is often underrated. Sleep can lead to a more productive, joyful and inspired life. A lack of quality sleep can have the opposite effects, including an increased risk of health issues, poor work performance and problems with mood and relationships. Enter John Legend, who wants to make sure we all get quality Z’s. The award winning singer, songwriter, and producer joins us for a conversation about the importance of sleep and his sleepcast series on the Headspace app.

Russ Glass, Chief Executive Officer, Headspace Health

John Legend, Multiplatinum Recording Artist; EGOT Recipient; Philanthropist

Moderator: Arianna Huffington, Thrive

 

Photograph by Stuart Isett/Fortune

In this once thriving town on the Eastern Plains of Colorado sits the town of Keota. The town started as a Rail line hub and then turned it's focus to agriculture for it's economic future. Then the 1930's hit and the dust bowl years arrived and took a huge toll on the farmers of the great plains. "Black blizzards" were common and would literally turn the sky black. The dust bowl and consequent economic failures spelled the beginning of the end for many small communities on the prairie and Keota felt the impact and could never fully recover.

 

During my visit there a fierce wind storm kicked up and wind gusts of up to 70 Mph kicked up the fine prairie soil and sent it airborne in a fit of rage. Within moments of taking this picture visibility dropped to about 40 feet. I know this storm in no way was as bad as those storms in the 1930's but the talk of the potentiality of a modern day dust bowl has begun. The similarities between today and the 1930's is striking. Colorado, coming off of a relative wet decade is now starting it's third year of a drought that shows no signs of weakening. The Ogallala Aquifer is being depleted at an alarming rate and if steps are not taken there is a very good chance that it will run dry in the not so distant future.

 

Fortunately, we know more about the preservation of top soil and farming practices that reduce the amount of loose fine soil being picked up carried and away but more needs to be done. If another dust bowl does hit the impact in human terms as well as economic will land a crushing blow to this nation, one that would be very hard to recover from.

 

During the last dust bowl the top soil was picked up and sent so far as the East Coast and affected cities such as New York and Washington D.C. before being deposited in the Atlantic Ocean. More than just a nuisance the result would be a severe reduction in food stocks for the country and the price of those food that would be available would sky rocket in place. In a an already weak economy this means big time hardships for many people.

Created in the mid-to-late Nineteenth Century by Melbourne stained glass manufacturer Ferguson and Urie, the Crucifixion of Jesus stained glass window is one of three windows above the altar. It is the central window of the three.

 

The crucifixion of Jesus is mentioned in all four Gospels of the New Testament. According to them, Jesus was arrested and tried by the Sanhedrin, and then sentenced by Pontius Pilate to be scourged, and finally crucified by the Romans. Jesus was stripped of his clothing and offered wine mixed with myrrh or gall to drink before being crucified. An object of ridicule, a crown of thorns was forced upon his head. The common belief is that Jesus died on the cross to absolve the sins of the peoples of the world, so that they, like he, could rise from death and go to heaven. Considering Jesus' status as King of the Jews and his bloody death, the vivid red stained glass background in this window may have been chosen on purpose. With her long golden tresses spilling about her, Mary Magdeline is depicted embracing the feet of the cross of Christ, the unhappiness clear on her face. An alabaster jar with a finial top (possibly a myrrh bearer) and a skull at the foot of the cross also identify this woman as Mary Magdalene. There are floral motifs both above and below the main panel. These floral designs are reflected in the other two windows around the altar.

 

Christ Church, built almost on the corner of Glenlyon Road and Brunswick Street in Brunswick, is a picturesque slice of Italy in inner city Melbourne. With its elegant proportions, warm yellow stuccoed facade and stylish Romanesque campanile, the church would not look out of place sitting atop a rise in Tuscany, or being the centre of an old walled town. This idea is further enhanced when the single bell rings from the campanile, calling worshipers to prayer.

 

Christ Church has been constructed in a cruciform plan with a detached campanile. Although not originally intended as such, at its completion, the church became an excellent example of "Villa Rustica" architecture in Australia. Like other churches around the inner city during the boom and bust eras of the mid Nineteenth Century as Melbourne became an established city, the building was built in stages between 1857 and 1875 as money became available to extend and better what was already in existence. Christ Church was dedicated in 1857 when the nave, designed by architects Purchas and Swyer, was completed. The transepts, chancel and vestry were completed between 1863 and 1864 to the designs created by the architects' firm Smith and Watts. The Romanesque style campanile was also designed by Smith and Watts and it completed between 1870 and 1871. A third architect, Frederick Wyatt, was employed to design the apse which was completed in 1875.

 

Built in Italianate style with overture characteristics of classical Italian country house designs, Christ Church is one of the few examples of what has been coined "Villa Rustica" architecture in Victoria.

 

Slipping through the front door at the bottom of the campanile, the rich smell of incense from mass envelops visitors. As soon as the double doors which lead into the church proper close behind you, the church provides a quiet refuge from the busy intersection of Glenlyon Road and Brunswick Street outside, and it is quite easy to forget that cars and trams pass by just a few metres away. Walking up the aisle of the nave of Christ Church, light pours over the original wooden pews with their hand embroidered cushions through sets of luminescent stained glass windows by Melbourne manufacturers, Ferguson and Urie, Mathieson and Gibson and Brooks Robinson and Company. A set of fourteen windows from the mid-to-late Nineteenth Century by Ferguson and Urie depicting different saints are especially beautiful, filled with painted glass panes which are as vivid now as when they were created more than one hundred years ago. The floors are still the original dark, richly polished boards that generations of worshipers have walked over since they were first laid. The east transept houses the Lady Chapel, whilst the west transept is consumed by the magnificent 1972 Roger H. Pogson organ built of cedar with tin piping. This replaced the original 1889 Alfred Fuller organ. Beautifully executed carved rood figures watch over the chancel from high, perhaps admiring the marble altar.

 

Albert Purchas, born in 1825 in Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Wales, was a prominent Nineteenth Century architect who achieved great success for himself in Melbourne. Born to parents Robert Whittlesey Purchas and Marianne Guyon, he migrated to Australia in 1851 to establish himself in the then quickly expanding city of Melbourne, where he set up a small architect's firm in Little Collins Street. He also offered surveying services. His first major building was constructing the mansion "Berkeley Hall" in St Kilda on Princes Street in 1854. The house still exists today. Two years after migrating, Albert designed the layout of the Melbourne General Cemetery in Carlton. It was the first "garden cemetery" in Victoria, and his curvilinear design is still in existence, unaltered, today. In 1854, Albert married Eliza Anne Sawyer (1825 - 1869) in St Kilda. The couple had ten children over their marriage, including a son, Robert, who followed in his father's footsteps as an architect. Albert's brother-in-law, Charles Sawyer joined him in the partnership of Purchas and Sawyer, which existed from 1856 until 1862 in Queens Street. The firm produced more than 140 houses, churches, offices and cemetery buildings including: the nave and transepts of Christ Church St Kilda between 1854 and 1857, "Glenara Homestead"in Bulla in 1857, the Melbourne Savings Bank on the corner of Flinders Lane and Market Street (now demolished) between 1857 and 1858, the Geelong branch of the Bank of Australasia in Malop Street between 1859 and 1860, and Beck's Imperial Hotel in Castlemaine in 1861. When the firm broke up, Albert returned to Little Collins Street, and the best known building he designed during this period was St. George's Presbyterian Church in East St Kilda between 1877 and 1880. The church's tall polychomatic brick bell tower is still a local landmark, even in the times of high rise architecture and development, and St, George's itself is said to be one of his most striking church designs. Socially, Albert was vice president of the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects for many years, before becoming president in 1887. He was also an inventor and philanthropist. Albert died in 1909 at his home in Kew, a wealthy widower and much loved father.

 

The stained glass firm of Ferguson and Urie was established by Scots James Ferguson (1818 – 1894), James Urie (1828 – 1890) and John Lamb Lyon (1836 – 1916). They were the first known makers of stained glass in Australia. Until the early 1860s, window glass in Melbourne had been clear or plain coloured, and nearly all was imported, but new churches and elaborate buildings created a demand for pictorial windows. The three Scotsmen set up Ferguson and Urie in 1862 and the business thrived until 1899, when it ceased operation, with only John Lamb Lyon left alive. Ferguson and Urie was the most successful Nineteenth Century Australian stained glass window making company. Among their earliest works were a Shakespeare window for the Haymarket Theatre in Bourke Street, a memorial window to Prince Albert in Holy Trinity, Kew, and a set of Apostles for the West Melbourne Presbyterian Church. Their palatial Gothic Revival office building stood at 283 Collins Street from 1875. Ironically, their last major commission, a window depicting “labour”, was installed in the old Melbourne Stock Exchange in Collins Street in 1893 on the eve of the bank crash. Their windows can be found throughout the older suburbs of Melbourne and across provincial Victoria.

  

Chocolate Monkey Shake Recipe

 

Thrive by Le-Vel

Weight Management > Cognitive Performance

> Digestive & Immune Support > Healthy Joint Function

> Lean Muscle Support > Calms General Discomfort

> Age-Defying & Antioxidant Support

The Number 45, Porsche GT3 911 RSR of the Flying Lizard Motorsports Team uses E85 fuel for the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) motorsport series at the Baltimore Grand Prix, on Friday, August 31, 2012, Labor Day Weekend. ALMS says they are “the Global Leader in Green Racing by being the only racing series recognized to comply with the Green Racing protocols developed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Society of American Engineers International (SAE).” Instead of high-octane gasoline all the cars in the series use one of 5 different forms of energy (system). Clean diesel, E85, E10, isobutanol or hybrid energy technology. The specific hybrid system, used by the Porsche GT3 cars, are a (battery-less) flywheel-based Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems. These organizations are accelerating technology development at speeds up to 200 mph, in 650-700 horsepower race cars that are based on two groups of cars; the purpose built prototype race cars and the GT

(Grand Touring) cars based on production sports cars that you can see in showrooms. From these groups, there are five classes of cars, all of which race at the same time during the race events.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) focuses on renewable fuel sources that are profitable and sustainable. 2011 accomplishments include research and planning for renewable energy and investments in renewable energy production.

- Completed a Biofuels Roadmap proposing a plan of action to meet congressionally mandated RFS2 goals for national biofuels production.

-Coordinated five regional research centers to work on the science necessary to ensure profitable biofuels can be produced from a diverse range of feed stocks across the nation, not just in the Midwest where the industry is already thriving.

-Over three years, USDA invested about $320 million to accelerate research on renewable energy ranging from genomic research on bioenergy feedstock crops, to development of biofuel conversion processes and costs/benefit estimates of renewable energy production.

- More than 130 biodiesel and ethanol projects funded by USDA are currently producing almost 3.7 billion gallons of biodiesel and ethanol annually, enough fuel – in equivalence to gasoline – to keep five million vehicles on the road every year.

-We are supporting efforts to build five biorefineries to produce advanced biofuels in states from Florida and Michigan to New Mexico, with investments worth about $310 million. We are supporting facility upgrades and feasibility studies for advanced biofuels projects in every region of the country. USDA photo by Lance Cheung.

 

a community garden run by Chicago Lights Urban Farm and Growing Power, Chicago Avenue

 

www.chicagolights.org/cgi-bin/WebObjects/cl.woa/wa/a?p=197

Goal: Thrive Church logo redesign (Church plant in Denver, CO - thrivechurch.com)

 

Audience: Our city - Denver, CO

 

Direction: Clean, modern, use FedEx green, no leaf, tree, roots as the symbol, make sure it works with .com in the end.

 

Project: We have recently finished our Thrive logo, as you can see here in option #11: www.flickr.com/photos/follow777/8006629941/in/photostream

The problem is that we discovered just how widely the green plus symbol is associated with medical marijuana in our city!! One of the comments in the critique did bring it up but we didn't think it is so widespread. That will become a part of our church plant story (that we will laugh about one day), but for now we have decided to rebrand.

 

Other important info: Thank you for your honest feedback!

 

The flower sellers of Adderley Street are as much a part of Cape Town as Table Mountain, good wine and fresh fish – for more than 150 years they have been selling their flowers from Trafalgar Place.

 

If you want to get an oral history of Cape Town, as well as the locals' views on current events, then a visit to the Adderley Street flower market is the thing to do.

 

For more than 150 years, flowers have been sold from Trafalgar Place, a covered alley where brightly coloured flowers, from fynbos to exotic blooms, are on display. You will know you've reached your destination when you hear calls of, 'R30 (thirty rand) a bunch, only R30.'

 

The flower sellers' busiest day of the year is without a doubt Valentine's Day, when Trafalgar Place is filled with bunches of roses – red, pink, yellow and even blue. On that day, carnations, proteas, tulips, poppies and sweet peas take a back seat.

 

But the flower sellers do far more than just sell bunches of flowers – they will regale you with stories of today and stories of yesteryear, stories that have been handed down through the generations.

 

Most of the flower sellers are women, coloured (a South African term for people of mixed race) and of slave descent. Their grandmothers and great-grandmothers were allowed to ply their trade here for many decades, even under the notorious Group Areas Act. They were allowed to stay because their clientele were white women who adorned their homes with the freshest-cut flowers they could find.

 

Strawberry Lane in Constantia will be spoken about wistfully. Or ask them about forced removals, about Bonteheuwel, Lavender Hill and Hanover Park.

 

Coloured people lived in Strawberry Lane in Constantia for many generations. Most of them worked on nearby farms, but they also farmed their own land, rearing animals and growing fruit, vegetables and flowers, which would then be sold. Strawberry Lane residents were forced off their land during the 1960s under South Africa's Group Areas Act.

 

Coloured and black people from Strawberry Lane were forcibly moved to areas specifically set aside for them, on the windy, barren and sandy Cape Flats, where it took a miracle for anything to take root. These areas were soulless and tore apart family and friends. They were dumped in Lavender Hill (where no lavender grew), Steenberg and Hanover Park.

 

Today there is no sign that a thriving, happy community once lived around Strawberry Lane and Constantia is one of the most expensive suburbs in Cape Town.

 

Memories of that terrible time are still vivid for many of the flower sellers. But they are a tough group of people – even though they still bear the psychological scars of being uprooted, they come from a tenacious people and continued to ply their trade.

 

And selling flowers here is a serious business – stalls are handed down from mother to daughter to carry on the tradition of selling flowers, charming customers, and absorbing and spreading stories about the past and the present.

 

Take some time to chat with them; their laughter is infectious, they will readily pose for photographs with tourists, and visitors will take a chunk of oral history with them.

Thrive Healing Massage

701 N 36th St, #420

Seattle, WA 98103-8868

(206) 547-5677

thrivehealingmassage.com

Handspun

10 wpi - 128 yards

4 oz Corriedale Wool

Hello Yarn Fiber Club

Selfridges, opened in 1909 and still thriving, now (2009) begins its Christmas season in-store from mid-August. See:

www.flickr.com/photos/allhails/3833848622/

 

This and many other of my photographs are featured in my book "London, Portrait of a City, 1950 to 1962" (Allan Hailstone, publ. Amberley Publishing), together with the story of how I came to photograph them and my memories of past London.

This is Page 1 of a photographic atlas I created as a laboratory study resource for my BIOL 121 Anatomy and Physiology I students on the bones and bony landmarks of the appendicular skeleton.

 

Credits: All photography, text, and labels by Rob Swatski, Professor of Biology, Harrisburg Area Community College - York Campus, York, PA. Email: rjswatsk@hacc.edu

 

Studying Anatomy and Physiology? Check out my Survive and Thrive in Anatomy & Physiology series of A&P textbooks! I wrote and illustrated these books to help biology and healthcare students succeed in A&P! Available in paperback, e-book, and Kindle.

 

Available for purchase on my website and Amazon: robswatski.com/

 

Biology Core Concepts - Chemistry and Cells (Book 1): a.co/d/0ijoG8Jv

 

The Histology Comic Book (Book 2): a.co/d/09BADvyS

 

The next book in the series, focusing on the skin, skeleton, and muscles, will be available in Late Spring/Early Summer 2026!

GP500.Org Part # 31701 racing windshield fits Suzuki: GSX-R 600 2006 – 2007, GSX-R 600 TT Limited Edition 2007, GSX-R 750 2006 – 2008, GSX-R 750 TT Limited Edition 2007, GSX-R 750 Limited Edition 2007, GSX-R 750SE 2008, GSX-R 750 Lucky Strike Replica 2008, GSX-R 750 Relentless Replica 2008, GSX-R 750 Barry Sheene Replica 2008

 

gp500.org

GP500 Motorcycle windshields

Suzuki Motorcycle History

Suzuki is another member of the “Big Four” from Japan. It began manufacturing motorcycles in 1952 and has become well known around the world. Its off-road bikes and roadracers have won world titles, and its street machines range from the cruiser Boulevard series to the legendary GSX-R series of sportbikes. It, along with Honda, is unique in that the company also builds automobiles. .1909

Michio Suzuki founds the Suzuki Loom Company in Hamamatsu, Japan. He builds industrial looms for the thriving Japanese silk industry. 1937

To diversify activities, the company experiments with several interesting small car prototypes, but none go into production because the Japanese government declares civilian automobiles “non-essential commodities” at the onset of WWII. 1951

After the war, Suzuki (like Honda and others) begins making clip-on motors for bicycles. 1953

The Diamond Free is introduced and features double-sprocket wheel mechanism and two-speed transmission. 1955

The Colleda COX debuts, a 125cc bike equipped with a steel frame. It features a 4-stroke OHV single-cylinder engine with three-speed transmission. 1961

East German star Ernst Degner defects to the west while racing for MZ in the Swedish Grand Prix. He takes MZ’s most valuable secret – knowledge of Walter Kaaden’s expansion chamber designs – to Suzuki. 1962

Using MZ’s technology, Suzuki wins the newly created 50cc class in the World Championship. The company will win the class every year until ’67, and win the 125cc class twice in that period, too. 1963

U.S. Suzuki Motor Corp. opens in Los Angeles. 1965

The T20 is released (aka Super 6, X-6, Hustler). This two-stroke, street-going Twin is one of the fastest bikes in its class. The ‘6’ in its name(s) refers to its six-speed gearbox. 1968

The T500 ‘Titan’ is an air-cooled parallel-Twin two-stroke. 1970

Joel Robert wins the 250cc World Motocross Championship for Suzuki. This is the first year of a three-year streak. 1971

The GT750 2-stroke surprises people with its three-cylinder liquid-cooled engine. In North America, it’s nicknamed the Water Buffalo; in the UK they call them Kettles. Although the bike is quite advanced in many ways and inspires a line of smaller air-cooled triples (GT380 and GT550), it’s clear that pollution control legislation will limit the use of two-strokes as street motorcycles. Even while the GT750 was in development, Suzuki had signed a licensing deal with NSU to develop a motorcycle with a Wankel (rotary) engine.

The TM400A motocrosser goes into production, a 396cc bike designed for 500cc motocross races. Roger Decoster wins the 500cc World Championship on the factory version of this bike and will dominate the class, winning five times from 1971-’76.

1972

The Hustler 400, a street version of the TM400, is released. This bike features a double-cradle frame and 2-stroke single-cylinder 396cc engine. 1974

The RE5 is the first Japanese motorcycle with a rotary engine. It cost a fortune to develop and, while not bad, it’s a commercial disaster. After two years, the company abandons the project, and there are rumors the tooling was dumped into the sea so that Suzuki managers would never have to see it again. 1975

The RM125, with an air-cooled 2-stroke single-cylinder 123cc engine, is a production motocrosser 1976

With the GS750, Suzuki finally builds a 4-stroke, four-cylinder road bike. 1978

The GS1000E becomes the flagship model of the GS series – it’s Suzuki’s first literbike. 1979

Wes Cooley wins the AMA Superbike Championship on the new GS. He’ll repeat the feat in ’80 before submitting to Eddie Lawson. 1980

The GSX750E adopts Twin Swirl Combustion Chamber (TSCC) structure and a DOHC engine upgraded to four valves. Also, a new Anti Nose Dive Fork (ANDF) system is adopted for the front suspension.

Somewhere in Japan, Suzuki appoints a Vice President of Acronyms for Suzuki’s Success (V-PASS).

1981

German designer Hans A. Muth, styles the GSX1100S Katana. It boasts an output of 111 hp at 8,500 rpm.

Marco Lucchinelli wins the 500cc World Championship for Suzuki.

1982

Franco Uncini wins the 500cc World Championship. 1983

The RG250 is Suzuki’s first ever race replica. This bike features the AL-BOX, square aluminum frame, 16-inch tire and Anti Nose Dive Forks (ANDF) at the front. 1985

The RG500 “Gamma” features the same square-Four cylinder layout as the as the factory Grand Prix bikes. Other racy features are the square-tube aluminum frame and the removable cassette-type transmission. 1986

Although the rest of the world got the GSX-R750 a year earlier, the most important new motorcycle in a decade finally arrives in the U.S. in 1986. Kevin Cameron, reviewing the machine in Cycle World, rhetorically asks, “Where will we go from here?”

The new GSX-R1100 covers ¼ mile in 10.3 seconds and boasts a top speed of over 160 mph. That’s where we go from here.

1989

Jamie James wins the AMA Superbike Championship of the GSX-R750. 1990

The 779cc DR-BIG has the largest single-cylinder engine in living memory. 1991

The GSX-R750 switches from oil-cooling to water-cooling and gains weight. 1993

Kevin Schwantz wins the 500cc World Championship. “I’d rather not win it this way,” he says, referring to the career-ending injury of his arch-rival Wayne Rainey. 1995

The much-loved 16-valve, 1156cc air/oil-cooled Bandit 1200 appears on the scene. 1996

Suzuki calls the new GSX-R750 the ‘turning-point model’ thanks to its twin-spar frame instead of the older double-cradle frame. The engine is also redesigned and featured 3-piece crankcases, chrome-plated cylinders and a side-mount cam chain as well as Suzuki Ram Air Direct (SRAD) system. 1997

The TL1000S is the first Suzuki sportbike with a V-Twin engine. It will be followed a year later by a racier R version, with a dodgy rotary vane damping system in the rear shock. Suzuki equipped the TL1000R with a steering damper, but it was still prone to headshake and customers approached it with caution, if at all. 1999

Mat Mladin wins the AMA Superbike Championship, beginning a run of unprecedented dominance. Mladin will win five more times, and Suzuki will win 8 of the next 9 titles.

With sport bikes getting more and more sharp edged, the company is one of the first to recognize what might be called the ‘semi-sport’ market, as opposed to the supersport market. The SV650 features an aluminum-alloy truss frame and a liquid-cooled 90° V-Twin DOHC 4-valve engine.

Suzuki calls the Hayabusa the ultimate aerodynamic sportbike. It’s powered by a 1298cc liquid-cooled DOHC in-line 4-cylinder engine that becomes the darling of land-speed racers. The name means “peregrine falcon” in Japanese.

2001

Based on the compact GSX-R750, the GSX-R1000 is powered by a liquid-cooled DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder 988cc engine, which features narrow-angle valves and downdraft individual throttle-body fuel injection. 2005

Suzuki’s original 4-stroke motocrosser, the RM-Z450, is equipped with a 4-stroke 449cc engine, which features the Suzuki Advanced Sump System (SASS).

Troy Corser gives Suzuki its first and only (so far) World Superbike Championship.

2006

The M109R, Suzuki’s flagship V-Twin cruiser, is powered by a 1783cc V-Twin engine with 112mm bore and 90.5mm stroke. It has the largest reciprocating pistons in any production passenger car or motorcycle. 2008

The B-King is launched, powered by the 1340cc Hayabusa engine, the B-King is Suzuki’s flagship big ‘Naked’ bike. Suzuki says it has the top-ranked power output in the naked category. 2010

Due to economic downturn, Suzuki decides not to import any sportbikes to America for the 2010 model year. It also sites a backlog of 2009 models still on showroom floors as part of the decision.

FBI Stolen motorcycles

gp500.org/FBI_stolen_motorcycles.html

Motorcycles VIN Decoder

gp500.org/VIN_Decoder.html

 

Lens used was the 60mm f/2.8D

Thrival Music Festival

Pittsburgh, PA

September 24th-25th

 

Photos taken by Jake Lahah

Easter Island, Rano Raraku

 

Easter Island (Rapa Nui: Rapa Nui, Spanish: Isla de Pascua) is a Chilean island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, at the southeasternmost point of the Polynesian Triangle. Easter Island is famous for its 887 extant monumental statues, called moai, created by the early Rapa Nui people. In 1995, UNESCO named Easter Island a World Heritage Site, with much of the island protected within Rapa Nui National Park.

 

Polynesian people most likely settled on Easter Island in the early second millennium CE, and created a thriving and industrious culture as evidenced by the island's numerous enormous stone moai and other artifacts. However, human activity, the introduction of the Polynesian rat and overpopulation led to gradual deforestation and extinction of natural resources which severely weakened the Rapa Nui civilization. By the time of European arrival in 1722, the island's population had dropped to 2,000–3,000 from an estimated high of approximately 15,000 just a century earlier. European diseases and Peruvian slave raiding in the 1860s further reduced the Rapa Nui population, to a low of only 111 inhabitants in 1877.

 

Rano Raraku is a volcanic crater formed of consolidated volcanic ash, or tuff, and located on the lower slopes of Terevaka in the Rapa Nui National Park. It was a quarry for about 500 years until the early eighteenth century, and supplied the stone from which about 95% of the island's known moai were carved. Rano Raraku is a visual record of moai design vocabulary and technological innovation, where 397 moai remain.

 

(sources: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Island and en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rano_Raraku)

Photo by Sứa

Retouched by me

The grapefruit tree is back in business.

Roadtrip Ierapetra - Zaros - Ierapetra, Crete, August 29, 2020